Small-town pride

Even if it's ultimately impossible to achieve, objective reporting is a noble goal, and I applaud brothers Bill and Turner Ross for at least attempting it in 45365, a documentary portrait of Sidney, Ohio. Perhaps it was the only suitable approach -- they both grew up in the tiny town, and nostalgia can be a game-altering bitch. Besides whatever is inherent in the framing of any portrait, there's little sentimentality to be found here -- the brothers' camera drifts to and from various situations that would seem inconsequential on their own, but as a whole, help define how this town breathes. I'm not sure that there's a message to take away from this besides, "This is how these people live," and I get the feeling that the lack of a didactic point is the point, indeed. There has to be some Frederick Wiseman inspiration going on here, except this is a lot more visually poetic than any of his stuff that I've seen.

Some ridiculous things happen in 45365 -- we see DUIs, a mother-son duo with a drug-buddy rapport arguing over Xanax, a kid getting cuffed after being sentenced to jail time, a couple with matching fried hair dancing to Air Supply, a public-school football team praying the "Our Father" before a game -- but it never feels particularly sensationalized. Stuff happens, the gaze moves on. We may see the subject of the last scene pop up again, we may not. It's a film with no real distinction between what is b-roll and what isn't, and it has the effect of watching a nature documentary without narration. I found myself mesmerized.

It's up on Hulu until Thursday, so if you're going to watch it, watch it now. I tried to embed it here (it worked in preview and everything), but for some reason it's not letting me. See what happens when you follow the Internet broadcast rules? You get screwed. Anyway, if you want a quick taste, check out my favorite scene. It starts at 52:40. Notice how the conversation quickly veers off course and into sex talk, even though the person steering looks to be about 80. Love her.

Comments

[Michael]

This is where I live, although I am not depicted in this film.

Help. Me.

[Allison]

I grew up 20 miles away from Sidney..had no idea this film existed.

Yeck..

[Leesil]

@ 30:57
"Alright I'm on my way to Walmart now..."
Take it from this Ohio resident...that about sums it all up.