Hot Docs 2014: Web Junkie

*For this particular film, since we both watched it., we did a his (Robert Stephen)/her (me, Melissa Arditti) movie review!  Hope you enjoy it!


Melissa's review

Life can sometimes be overwhelming and we need to escape for a while and indulge in something pleasurable. But when it gets to a point where the virtual world that you've escaped to blurs with actual reality, there is a problem. When you cannot remember the last time you washed your hair, let alone slept in your bed, World of Warcraft probably comes to mind; one of the most highly addictive online fantasy role-playing games.

In Web Junkie, directed by Hilla Medalia and Shosh Shlam, internet addiction is a growing problem in China, especially within the teenage population. To combat this issue, there have been over 400 treatment centres built with the hope to rehabilitate these adolescents before they lose all connection to the real world.

Like many who have addictions, denial is at the forefront, so parents will go to extremes to get their teen help. Some of the methods seem pretty morally disturbing.

These centres are anything but a walk in the park, with intense military-style physical training, group psychological counselling, and pretty much being under a watchful eye at all times. Parents relinquish their parental rights, which is relieving yet heart breaking for them, and in this film we follow three internet addictive teens during their three-month period of stay at a facility.

Compared to an addictive drug, this particular “electronic heroin,” off which they are trying to be weaned, is just as deadly, especially with its psychological dependency. Although people must be responsible for their own behaviours and actions, the abuse, neglect, and the overall feeling of never being good enough are huge factors as to why cyberspace is far more pleasant.

It’s interesting to note not only the openness (or perhaps desperation) of some of the parents, as well as the confrontations that take place during the therapy sessions. In the Asian culture it is often frowned upon to “show face”. It relates to the idea of avoiding the expression of any kind of emotion.

Watching a father break down into tears over his son’s behaviour and his perceived failure as a father figure was quite powerful.

One thing that I take away from this film is that sometimes disconnecting from the virtual world makes you truly appreciate, and reconnects with, what you have right in front of you.

Robert’s review

There is a seductive element to Web Junkie: poor teens trapped by an evil addiction to the internet being more or less drugged and kidnapped by parents and sent to this particular Beijing internet addiction rehab centre.

Let’s step back a moment and put an historical context to this. China controls internet content that flows to its citizens. The Gang of Four and the Cultural Revolution are long gone and have been replaced by a pro-capitalist, anti-democratic Communist Party which controls internet access and filters out any China -negative content.

It reminds one of the Ontario Censor Board in the 1950’s. So, the internet is a suspicious activity in China. A few teenagers go over the edge and 400 internet addiction rehab centres are established. Is the internet in China sweeping the nation in some Reefer Madness fashion? Is there a distorted overreaction? Is there real addiction here or are the teens political dissidents imprisoned for bypassing state sanctioned limits on the internet?

Is the problem World of Warcraft or are those who threaten the rules and sent to re-education camps?

Is this another Cultural Revolution the authorities are bound to lose?
Interesting here is that the internet addiction rehab centre, Chinese Teenagers Mental Correction Centre, filmed in this documentary is administered by the Beijing Military Hospital, and the chief psychiatrist is a military doctor.

My reaction to the documentary was to trash it, and trash it I will, but with a bit of restraint as I know an internet junkie and I recall vividly watching a Polish Film, “Suicide Room.”

A bit of reality and fiction keep me narrowly from saying directors Medalia/Shlam were set-up on this film.

(Web Junkie, Israel/United Kingdom, Mandarin with English Subtitles, opens 30 May 2014, Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, Toronto)

Hot Docs: Sleepless in New York

Love is a complicated emotion that makes us do crazy things. Sometimes we are so in love that we forget ourselves. We may sacrifice our well-being and devote all our attention and energy for the hope that we’ll be loved back. When the break-up happens though, we are completely lost and left alone with only our ill thoughts of feeling like it’s the end of the world and what the hell did we do wrong to deserve this?

In the documentary, Sleepless in New York, directed by Christian Frei, we get to view broken-hearted test subject, Alley Scott, through a brief interview, followed by an MRI to understand the profound effects that rejection has on us on many levels. It was interesting to note that when you are rejected, someone could spend up to 85% of the day thinking about that person.

Helen Fisher, a biological anthropologist, studies the brain circuitry of romantic love and has coined the term “frustration attraction.” It’s when the dopamine system doesn't get what it wants, and tries even harder. So, despite all best intentions, you love who dumped you even more. It seems a bit sadistic, doesn't it?

This documentary has an extremely melancholy feel to it which suits the subject matter rather well. It does have an artistic side as well, displaying a variety of people on a busy New York subway in slow-motion. They are obviously dealing with loss, in some form or another. There is also a lot of narration from the three main people: Alley Scott, Michael Harington, and Rosey La Rouge, who intimately share their stories and don’t hold back from revealing their emotional turmoil while trying to deal with life as a single person.

At times you want to give them a big, comforting hug, and sometimes you want to shake them and say forget about that $h!t!

If you’re in a situation where you've been rejected and are looking for a few healthy coping tips, it has been suggested that the best way thing to do is to get that person out of your head entirely. This includes removing the person from all your contact lists, getting rid of photos, e-mails, old love letters, and anything that sparks a reminder or memory. Time for a clean-slate. Treat yourself well (often termed as ‘self-care’), and go out and do new things. Get a hobby or hang out with supportive friends.

It’s not an easy road when you love someone and they throw your heart away. I think we've all been there.

The connection can be so strong that it almost seems impossible to pull away. You will go to any length for one last chance, even if that means stalking that person by driving by their house multiple times a night, showing up all the time at places with the hope that your ex will be there, checking their Facebook page hundreds of times per day, and more extreme behaviours.

As we continue this path of self-destruction, we lose a little more of ourselves each and every day.

Moving on can feel impossible, no matter if you have known someone for just a single day or if you've gone as far as actually starting to build a life together. For these three tortured souls in Sleepless in New York, and really for the rest of us in the world who may be mending a broken-heart, rest assure that there is some truth to the old adage that time heals all wounds.

Hot Docs: Living Stars

Living Stars Trailer

Living Stars, directed by Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat, is another wonderfully-surprising documentary, filmed in Buenos Aires. If you like to get down, shake it, pump it, or just move to the rhythm, keep on reading.

My initial impression when reading the synopsis of this doc was that it would be like one continuous You Tube video with various people dancing to different songs. However, a smile came across my face when the opening scene showed a happy-go-lucky dentist dancing to Lionel Richie’s All Night Long.

The doc captures individuals in a relaxed state of mind, grooving to popular songs, from all walks of life and occupations. Some are incredibly talented, while others, well, they just dance to the beat of their own drum.

Watch out for the Kinesiologist turned bizarre dancing cowboy!

There is a slight feel of voyeurism at certain moments, where it feels like you are peering in on a sacred moment. And at other times, a family member or friend is completely oblivious to their surroundings, which both make for interesting concepts.

You can also stare at the screen and notice subtle things, like blinking car lights in the background as a little boy dances to Michael Jackson’s Beat It.

A few highlights worth mentioning:

• Retired people sitting in their chairs doing synchronized dance moves to Yolanda Be Cool Speak No Americano.
• The amusing dentist that we first see in the opening scene, appears throughout the film, which in itself is hilarious because he is so animated. He dances along with his daughter to Justin Bieber’s hit, Beauty and the Beat.
• A pizza boy/drag queen gives his family a sassy performance of Toxic by Britney Spears.
• Maxi Trusso (look him up immediately, close your eyes, and you’ll think you’re listening to Roy Orbison; he is that good) dancing to his own unique remix, and on a personal note, a song that my boyfriend sang to me all the time when we first started dating. Orbison’s You Got It.

So if you’re looking for an entertaining 63 minutes, you got it.

Hot Docs: Four Letters Apart – Children in the Age of ADHD

It is frightening to know that according to the documentary Four Letters Apart – Children in the Age of ADHD, directed by Erlend E Mo, Ritalin, the most popular medication to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, has increased by 2,400% in 15 years. As many would probably agree, it is over-prescribed and carries a number of side effects that have warranted parents to re-think medicating their child/children and to seek out other methods of treatment.

Lindevangskolen is a special needs school in Denmark which treats kids with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. This particular documentary follows three kids at the school who suffer from a myriad of problems; Marino who has a viscous temper, Martine, a girl who is highly emotional, doesn't like being touched and regularly has tantrums; and Victor gets into fights and often states, “I’m horrid.”  Truly a sad way for any child to feel about themselves.

The film follows these kids over the course of a year as they learn to cope with their ADHD in a completely new way; by using an alternative treatment method that helps them with their emotional and sensory motor development skills.

Along with a full assessment, some of the exercises involve spinning, rocking, and balancing. The best part is that everyone, especially parents, caregivers, and teachers, is involved, and the acceptance, support, and effort to follow through with this program can really make a huge difference.

Three vital aspects that this program hopes to achieve include learning, well-being, and neurological development.

Programs like the one offered at Lindevangskolen are not always readily available for kids diagnosed with ADHD and some even question the validity in the long-term. And rightfully so. While Ritalin may work in some cases, before writing the next prescription, deal with the whole person, keeping in mind factors such as emotional, environmental, social spiritual, etc.

So do they have ADHD? Maybe, but there is more to each of their stories that raise the question whether this diagnosis is totally accurate or whether other factors have contributed to their behaviours.

You can clearly see the improvements without Ritalin or any other medication. Although there is still much debate on this specialized therapy, more research will have to be done. However, the proof, for now, is in the difference that you see in these misunderstood kids.

You can see the happiness again, the willingness to interact with other students, and the potential to be more than what a label has stigmatized them with forever.

Hot Docs: Mad As Hell

I am very excited to be reviewing a number of films from 2014 Hot Docs Film Festival.

Mad as Hell, directed by Andrew Napier, follows You Tube political icon Cenk Uygur  through his turbulent but triumphant transition from the early days of creating a public TV show, followed by being a national host for MSNBC, to the overwhelming success of his You Tube show, The Young Turks.

In law school, Cenk was a thorn in everyone’s side, always arguing and asking questions. After graduating, his passion for law sank and his desire for political commentary grew. Seeing all the injustices in the system, he had to do something about it, and something big.

There are many shocking moments, including in this doc that show a skewed reality of what its like to be on the inside of the political spectrum. Is it a bit on the conspiracy theory side? Perhaps, but Cenk pretty much tells it like it is, welcoming whatever repercussions may allude from his actions and risking it all, or as he states, “Balls to the Walls!”

Now that doesn’t always go so well when you’re bashing the President of the United States (Obama) for all the world to hear, but Cenk is not shy from sharing his opinions, on-air or off.

Some may feel that Cenk is boisterous and overly-opinionated, others may see this as yet another agenda, but I’ll leave that for you to decide.

Collaborating with other intelligent and driven news commentators, The Young Turks are indeed a family. Not your typical one by blood, but with those strong ties that bind. Sure, Cenk may need a little refinement from time to time, but the political landscape will never be the same and support continues to grow for getting out the truth.

Now with The Young Turks being to-date, the world’s most popular online news show with over one billion views, this is only the beginning and as crazy as his ideas might sound, there is one thing that everyone agrees on; Cenk wanted to change the world and he’s doing it.