Oscar-winning documentary director Steve James (Hoop Dreams) captures John Pierson and his family serving free movies to the community in this totally unique film. A big favorite of mine in the doc category. Keep in mind besides Hoop Dreams, James also directed the intense "Stevie" movie.
Here he has much easier and mellower material to work with as he films the Pierson family coming to grips with their new culture and the things that happen as they show 15 free movies in a row to the natives of the island.
Pierson himself is quite a character, an indie film guru that you will find out early in the film was largely responsible for bringing us Spike Lee and others. He's got a bit of an ego and clashes with the natives while his wife is very loving and passive and just tries to mingle and fit in. Their sixteen and sassy daughter has a strong personality in contrast to her little brother, a sweetheart of a 13-year-old who gets along with everyone.
The disparity in the characters and of course the theater and the movies they show all make for very interesting material and having someone like James at the helm lands up producing one heck of an entertaining documentary.
Technically not available in the streaming world but I did find an upp on YT so I put both the trailer and that for you below, enjoy. 4.0 stars/5
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