I have been trying to write up BIGFOOT CLUB for a couple of weeks now. It’s not a matter of it being a bad film, more that how I view the film and what I like about it shifts from day to day. Some times I love the nostalgic turns in the film, and on other days I love the films look at loneliness and friendship over time. Each time I focus on one aspect and diminish the other and then when I go back to it I rip up what I wrote and refashion it into what I feel at that moment.
That my friends is a rave. I say that because it’s an indication that director Steven Tsapelas has made a living breathing film that once you see it you continue to engage with. It's that very rare film that doesn't just sit there with each viewing but engages with you with each pass, inviting you to not only find the hidden goodies but to also see it through a new set of eyes.("Why not look at it THIS way")
A rough description of BIGFOOT CLUB would be to say it tells the story of a woman named Dorothy March who was the driving force behind the Bigfoot Club, a group of teens who investigated weird mysteries like bigfoot. They were also the subject of a PBS series. Two decades later Dorothy finds herself and her friends caught up chasing the hairy beast once more. There is more to it than that but it's enough to gt you started
Tsapelas is another member of the In the Garage Productions group. This group of filmmakers are near and dear to my heart because they are based on and around Long Island where I live. They are also a group of filmmakers who grow exponentially with each new film. I've seen all there films to date and these guys and girls just get better every time out. I will tell their story later but know you need to track down all of their films including Steve's previous film UFO CLUB.(You should also track down Steve's work for both Marvel and Archie comics)
This is sweet film. Not only is this the story of a young woman reconnecting with her past and her soul, but it is also a film that is full of nostalgia as flashbacks from the Bigfoot Club show and references to other TV shows. These little pieces will set your mind going and will make you want to see either more bits or to see what’s here expanded. Essentially Tsapelas has constructed a film that is like a Sunday drive, where you pass neighborhoods that you want to revisit.
But there is way more going on here. Tsapelas has fashioned a strong character study about a woman lost in her life. It's a touching examination of finding our place in the world and the importance of friends in our lives. Most importantly it's a film that doesn't take the expected turns, with the result that when the end comes you may very well find yourself misting up. I mention this because the first time through I fought the film for a bit since, me the smart ass film writer who occassionally thinks he nows everything, found he didn't.
This is a wonderful film that is going to grow in your heart and become a favorite.
Playing soon at a festival near you, BIGFOOT CLUB is going to be one you will want to make an effort to see.
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