After a vicious attack left him brain-damaged and broke, Mark Hogancamp seeks recovery in “Marwencol,” a 1/6th scale World War II-era town he created in his backyard. He populated it with military figurines and Barbie dolls representing World War II personages like Patton, as well as stand-ins for himself, his friends and his family. Finally, he dusted off an old camera and used it to capture staged events ranging from pitched battles between occupying German and American forces to cat-fights in the town bar.
Jeremy Butler, film professor at UA says, “Tuscaloosa is lucky to get “Marwencol,” a unique and almost inexplicable documentary about a man and his obsession. Debuting at SXSW last March, the film took home the Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary. More recent accolades include two Independent Spirit Awards. I was fortunate to see this film at the Sidewalk Film Festival in September and can honestly say it’s one of the more engaging and thought-provoking docs I’ve seen in a very long time. Patiently edited and thoroughly compelling, the film probes questions about the role of art in rehabilitation, and the often thin line that separates art from commodity. Ultimately it’s a human story with a larger than life central character you can’t help but be compelled to watch.”
“Exactly the sort of mysterious and almost holy experience you hope to get from documentaries and rarely do,” says the Village Voice.
Marwencol (2010) – February 1 at 8:00 p.m. in Tuscaloosa’s Bama Theatre
Not Rated / Documentary / 83 minutes
Prize winner at the Boston Independent, Seattle International and Woodstock Film Festivals
Director: Jeff Malmberg
Stars: Mark Hogancamp
Discounted complete series subscription tickets will be available at www.brownpapertickets.com ($40 adults/$30 students and seniors).
Individual tickets will be available at the Bama Theatre box office prior to screenings ($7 general/$6 students and seniors/$5 Arts Council members).
GET YOUR SEASON TICKETS AT THE DOOR! Bama Bar & the box office will open at 7:00 p.m. before each film. Screenings begin at 8:00 p.m. For more information about the film series, visit www.bamaarthouse.com.
Thank you to Series Sponsor EPIPHANY in Downtown Tuscaloosa. Epiphany will offer a dining special for BAH film-goers during this 7-week film season.
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