Austinist: SXSW Film Preview: FrontRunners

oh steph

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 01:59:25 -0600

Chester - first off, allow me to commend you on your proper Economist greeting. Sir is always welcome here at Austinist. In regards to your comment - indeed, I recognize the implicit political underpinnings that Director Suh was alluding to. I wished to talk about the grander scheme of politics in America, but fell short on time and space in which to inform our readers about the screening this eve. However, while I could render a diatribe on the film's mission, I chose to look at it from the point of view of someone yearing to understand the individual, as opposed to the system. In this day and age, if I can't glean the root of a character's motivation, then why bother caring? Yes, those in power crave control and influence, but they also crave love and passion and connection, whether or not that ever bubbles to the surface of their public lives. Please note that I have no beef with the film or filmmaker, but just wished to have felt more connected to the reasons, well, why people do what they do. Thank you for the feedback. It was well placed and most certainly welcome.

chester2527

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 01:02:34 -0600

"Director Caroline Suh does an admirable job of guiding the story to keep us guessing until the end (even though we had already chosen our candidate) but falls short of providing a fully fleshed impression of each student's life outside of the election, and what makes them so incredibly driven to capture the flag of presidency."" Sir - Your point is well received yet i believe it is predicated on a false understanding of the film's inherent mission. It is a unique glimpse at a microcosm of the phenomenon of democratic government which we so proudly flaunt as nation, and moreso an examination of how that tradition, in both theory and practice, has permeated into the deepest crevices of our society, and what the implications are. It is most definitely not an ethnography and should not be judged as such lest be criticized for straying from the criterion of one. Who the hell wants to watch a movie about some megalomaniacal, overachieving, privileged city kids anyway? "What makes them so incredibly driven" - Well, since when haven't people wanted power for one reason or another. The thirst for power, or at least control, is all but tied to our very human nature. High School is no different. It is certainly not a question of profound enough origin to overshadow Director Caroline Suh's correctly placed emphasis on the more relevant and intriguing subject matter.

chester2527

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 01:02:07 -0600