Carts of Darkness- Vancouver Premiere

While on the surface, Carts of Darkness appears to be a simple story of bottle collectors bombing down hills in shopping carts, something you might stumble across on Youtube. But by putting himself into the documentary, Murray Siple creates an insightful exploration of the human condition. This is no ordinary feat. The traditional role of documentarian is to maintain a calculated distance from his or her subject, lest the subject become too aware of themselves as a participant in the filming process. However, given the outsider nature of binners, the challenge instead was to gain access to their lifestyle. But how does one achieve this without taking on the cheap sentimentality that can infiltrate the storyline, as is often the case with such films as Bowling for Columbine? Here it is Siple's disability that works for and against him, giving the film an underlying tension. The binners are obviously less threatened by Siple and let him in, but at the same time his condition offers a physical barrier that prevents him from going too far.

"Put it up".

Stylistically, Carts of Darkness emulates the descent and accent of its subjects and the mountains they call home, at times delving deep into the bottom of the characters' lives, wrenching and introspective, while at others taking the viewer to the extreme heights of the Westcoast lifestyle and the adrenalin to be had in living off the grid. There are several climaxes and denouements, accented by the soundtrack which includes Bison, Black Mountain, Ladyhawk, and Vetiver; the last ride before jail, the last ride before recovery, the first ride after jail, etc. Culminating in one of the most touching and compelling moments in documentary film I've seen in a long time.

"The film adopts the tropes of extreme sports filmmaking; fluid flowing cinematography, intense music, visceral pulse pounding action and irreverent characters unbounded by society's constrictions, to bring viewers deep into a world and deep into people they would normally look away from". But at the same time, it is careful not to rely too heavily on visual trickery to make its point. Indeed, when the metaphor of snowboarding finally becomes concrete and actual footage is interlaced with the narrative, it is subtle and unforced. Indeed, "What is extreme?" Big Al asks innocently.

Big Al is the central character. A proud, stoic Canadian, he is polite and honest. He shatters the stereotype that homeless people are lazy. Although he's an outsider he remains very much a part of society. He sees the value inherent in what he does, but ultimately he's aware of the contradictions placed upon him. Supporting characters sort of act as the superego and the id; Fergie who appears to give up all hope and Bob the peaceful gardener who is content to tend to his garden, finding the positive in everything as evident in one of the most memorable lines in the film, "my business is picking up". Get it? Picking up bottles. So good.

The movie is showing as part of the VIMFF.

Friday, February 22, 2008
9:00pm - 10:15pm
Centennial Theater
2300 Lonsdale Avenue
North Vancouver, BC