Spellbound (2002/2003)
The idea seems simple and rife with
possibilities: A documentary about children participating
in the National Spelling Bee. Hell, the idea was so
simple that it seemed a bit too obvious and typical.
I didn't even really think much about watching it.
When it came to Austin during the SXSW film festival
several months back, I skipped it, thinking I could
pretty much imagine what it was all about, thinking
it was an idea that had pretty much been done.
Well, whether or not there are other
documentaries about kids in spelling bees (I don't
really know, haven't really researched), "Spellbound"
is one of the most fascinating, engrossing, dramatic
and delightful films you will see in your entire life.
I went to this film because I saw in one of those
magazine charts that it had been rated 4 to 5 stars
in every review it has received and discovered that
this was rightly so. The film will amaze you. And
it's a great piece for the entire family, parents,
grandparents and kids.
The kids chosen to be the subjects
of the film, all regional winners who went to Washington
DC to compete in the National Spelling Bee in 1999,
are all fascinating. A long set-up takes ample time
introducing each one of them to us and showing us
their home and school life. But this is important.
We want to know these children. They are unique and
smart and interesting. There are boys and girls and
a few different nationalities, different areas of
the country and different ages are represented. But
there are many similarities regardless of this. All
of the kids are smart, that pretty much goes without
saying. They are also sort of nerdy, somewhat unpopular
in school and spend much time at home studying.
The homelife of these children becomes
a focus of each when introduced and these too are
as diverse as the children themselves. Most parents
are quite involved in what their children are doing
and many spend hours with their offspring going over
words and spellings and studying for the bee. A few
of the parents seem myopic about the process, especially
one father of Middle Eastern dissent. Then again,
just as many seem to recognize that it is important
for their kids to have interests outside of schoolwork
and studying for the bee. The odd exception to the
parents is the mother of a African-American girl from
Washington D.C. who seems nowhere as bright as her
child. The mother, when allowed to speak, also gets
into that sadly, seemingly typical, minority rant
about how her daughter is not treated as well as the
other kids in the contest and how the local school
system is neglecting to support her. But the young
lady is smart and sweet and charming and it is easy
to root or her, as it is for most of the kids.
One of the most interesting of the
kids appears to be the youngest as well, a boy so
weird and goofy that he seems to perhaps be autistic
or an idiot savant. Then again, maybe he just has
parents who allow him to be his goofy old self. Regardless,
watching him being interviewed by the filmmakers here
is simply amazing as well as hilarious.
The children's school life is presented
but not much time is spent upon it. Several of the
children's teachers are interviewed and seem as proud
and as supportive as the parents do. Some discussion
of not fitting in at school is related by the students
but no horror stories emerge, thankfully. The idea
that the National Bee, with 249 students from all
over the U.S. collecting in one space, is an excellent
way for the students to realize that there are "others
like them" in the world is also touched upon.
One of the other typical yet wonderful
themes of the film is the immigrant experience. In
these post-9/11 days, it is still great to hear people
talk about what great opportunities America offers
its citizens and children. Yes, this film was lensed
before the tragic events of that September day, but
the effect is not lost. The first participant introduced,
from Texas, has Hispanic parents who immigrated to
this country and still do not speak the language well.
(The joy of the irony that she is an English spelling
champ is electrifying). The interviews of this family
include much talk by the girl's older brother who
tells of his father's feelings about coming to this
country and making a better life for his children.
It is nothing short of heartwarming beauty. It is
done interestingly as well. Rather than have the boy
translate his father's words, the boy tells how he
feels while his father works in the background. This
not only highlights the hard work his father has put
in to give his children a better life but also how
the son is well-versed in his father's feelings about
his life and progeny.
The climax of the film, of course,
is the bee itself - and it is riveting! Armed with
an intimate knowledge of several of the participants,
we become easily engrossed in the proceedings and
share heartbreak and triumph with the young people
we've grown to know and like over the last hour. Following
the proceedings down to the wire, the film provides
one of the most dramatic and intense climaxes to ever
grace the screen. It's like "Rocky" only about people
who can actually speak English. And spell words in
that language as well.
"Spellbound" may seem like an easy
and typical idea for a documentary, but that doesn't
make it any less fascinating. This is an amazing film.
The filmmakers cover all the right areas and provide
exactly the right amount of insight and set-up for
us to enjoy the film's payoff. It's a beautiful film,
spelled P-E-R-F-E-C-T.
Note:
Nominated for an Academy Award for
Best Documentary Feature in 2002.
At least four other films have had
this title including an Alfred Hitchcock classic.
Premiered at the SXSW Film Festival
in Austin in March 2002. Released to arthouses in
US in April 2003.
Viewed in Austin at the Westgate
Theater in June 2003. I saw my friends Jan and Quida
as I exited the theater in the lobby and we discussed
this film, "The Hulk," "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle,"
and "28 Days Later."
