“Parallel Lines” is unlike any other 9/11 documentary I have seen.
Davenport does not make a single reference to George Bush, Donald Rumsfeld or any politician, but her film is still deeply political. When her excavation reveals so much pain and suffering in the very heart of America, she digs deeper, trying to find its roots, and find them numerous and intertwined: the genocide against Native Americans, Vietnam, class inequities, the military-industrial complex, etc. All of this is exacerbated by the seemingly willful national amnesia we have about our violent history. This theme crystallizes when Davenport visits a museum in Los Alamos dedicated to the Manhattan Project. Though the program is lovingly detailed in the exhibit, there is not a single mention of the number of people who died at Hiroshima. But there are lots of pretty pictures of bombs exploding.
Davenport´s approach has its limits, though. The camera can reveal, but it cannot always help us understand. When Steve, a tent-dwelling Vietnam Vet who has spent most of his life struggling with post traumatic stress, recounts his story to Nina, she struggles to find the appropriate words. "That makes me sad" seems so inadequate it almost elicits a (nervous) chuckle, but I can´t imagine what I would say either. What did you say when you watched the towers fall down? Similarly, Davenport struggles to find an appropriate ending for her journey once she returns to New York. An awkward juxtaposition of "before and after" shots of the Towers seen from her apartment window fails miserably, but she keeps searching. In the end, she finds an almost perfect grace note to end the film on, something so fitting and moving I will leave you to discover it for yourself.
And I hope you will find out. "Fahrenheit 9/11" may be the most famous and commercially successful 9/11 documentary so far. It is, however, most certainly not the best. In my humble opinion, "Parallel Lines" holds that distinction. Watch it.
Video
The documentary is presented in a 1.33:1 full-screen aspect ratio. Though the video was upgraded through a FILMLOOK process to make it look better, the DVD transfer is not a progressive one. The image quality is sharp, but there are substantial examples of combing to be found in many scenes involving camera movement. This doesn´t necessarily impact your viewing experience on a tube (you can really see it when you watch on a computer), but we can still expect better.
Audio
The DVD is presented in Dolby Digital Stereo. No optional subtitles are offered to support the audio which is mostly in English (with some Spanish as well, which does come with non-optional English subtitles).
Extras
A Filmmaker Interview (13 min.) with Nina Davenport addresses some of the basic questions regarding the film´s production.
The only other features are text-based information bits: A Filmmaker Bio, Other Docurama trailers, etc. If you'd like to learn more, check out the exclusive DVD Town interview with Davenport.
Film Value
As a survey of American voices that would not otherwise be heard, American faces that would not otherwise be seen, "Parallel Lines" is invaluable. It is also a potent reminder that the personal is political. In its exploration of the nation´s psyche, particularly its buried and (not quite) forgotten history, Davenport creates something both resonant and enduring.
I have seen nearly every 9/11-themed documentary that has been made. "Parallel Lines" is not merely unique among them in form and content; it is also unique because it is the best 9/11 documentary I have yet seen. The film did not receive a theatrical release or play on American cable. This DVD release if the first chance for most viewers in the States to see it. Take advantage of the opportunity.
You can also read our interview with Nina Davenport at this link.
Davenport´s approach has its limits, though. The camera can reveal, but it cannot always help us understand. When Steve, a tent-dwelling Vietnam Vet who has spent most of his life struggling with post traumatic stress, recounts his story to Nina, she struggles to find the appropriate words. "That makes me sad" seems so inadequate it almost elicits a (nervous) chuckle, but I can´t imagine what I would say either. What did you say when you watched the towers fall down? Similarly, Davenport struggles to find an appropriate ending for her journey once she returns to New York. An awkward juxtaposition of "before and after" shots of the Towers seen from her apartment window fails miserably, but she keeps searching. In the end, she finds an almost perfect grace note to end the film on, something so fitting and moving I will leave you to discover it for yourself.
And I hope you will find out. "Fahrenheit 9/11" may be the most famous and commercially successful 9/11 documentary so far. It is, however, most certainly not the best. In my humble opinion, "Parallel Lines" holds that distinction. Watch it.
Video
The documentary is presented in a 1.33:1 full-screen aspect ratio. Though the video was upgraded through a FILMLOOK process to make it look better, the DVD transfer is not a progressive one. The image quality is sharp, but there are substantial examples of combing to be found in many scenes involving camera movement. This doesn´t necessarily impact your viewing experience on a tube (you can really see it when you watch on a computer), but we can still expect better.
Audio
The DVD is presented in Dolby Digital Stereo. No optional subtitles are offered to support the audio which is mostly in English (with some Spanish as well, which does come with non-optional English subtitles).
Extras
A Filmmaker Interview (13 min.) with Nina Davenport addresses some of the basic questions regarding the film´s production.
The only other features are text-based information bits: A Filmmaker Bio, Other Docurama trailers, etc. If you'd like to learn more, check out the exclusive DVD Town interview with Davenport.
Film Value
As a survey of American voices that would not otherwise be heard, American faces that would not otherwise be seen, "Parallel Lines" is invaluable. It is also a potent reminder that the personal is political. In its exploration of the nation´s psyche, particularly its buried and (not quite) forgotten history, Davenport creates something both resonant and enduring.
I have seen nearly every 9/11-themed documentary that has been made. "Parallel Lines" is not merely unique among them in form and content; it is also unique because it is the best 9/11 documentary I have yet seen. The film did not receive a theatrical release or play on American cable. This DVD release if the first chance for most viewers in the States to see it. Take advantage of the opportunity.
You can also read our interview with Nina Davenport at this link.
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[release]20016[/release]