Sheffield Doc/Fest 2014: Day 5 Highlights

It’s our final day of Sheffield Doc/Fest for 2014 and we’re still seeing some brilliant pieces of documentary filmmaking. Now in its’ 21st year the festival continues to attract filmmaking  talent from all over the globe and screen stories that are powerful, emotional and will stay with you long after the credits roll. Here’s our highlights of the final full day of screenings:

ALFRED & JAKOBINE 

ALFRED & JAKOBINE is the sweet yet epic tale of two lives forever intertwined through love and a London taxi cab. In the summer of 1955 Alfred & Jakobine fell in love, bought a taxi cab and set off on the adventure of their lives driving across the world. Their love, whilst passionate and all-consuming, was not enough for Alfred and he left Jakobine heart-broken and distraught. Forty years later Alfred, who still has the taxi cab they embarked on their adventures in, decides to fix up the car and drive it across America back to Jakobine in an acknowledgment of all they shared. Joined by their son Niels we follow Alfred’s plan through to fruition whilst Jakobine, unaware of what is planned, describes the romance and her life post-Alfred alongside grainy home footage.

Directors Jonathan Howells and Tom Roberts have an incredibly powerful story on their hands and treat it with the respect it deserves; creating an ode to Alfred & Jakobine’s decades-spanning relationship. Touching without being overly-saccahrine ALFRED & JAKOBINE is a romantic yet bittersweet tale of love, loss and adventure.

WHITEY: UNITED STATES V JAMES J. BULGER

During the 1970’s and 1980’s James “Whitey” Bulger ruled the city of Boston as head of the Irish mafia. After 16 years on the run, 12 of which he spent on the FBI’s most-wanted list, he was tracked down in California. Now, at 83 years old, Bulger is standing trial for numerous felony counts including 19 alleged murders. Interestingly this is not the focus of the documentary; nor does it seem to be Bulger’s main prerogative. Rather than focus on being called a criminal, drug-dealer or a murderer the focus lies on whether Bugler was in fact an FBI informant during his years as the head of the mafia. We hear from attorneys, witnesses, family members of the dead and many, many current and former FBI agents as the build up to the historic trial gains momentum.

WHITEY: UNITED STATES V JAMES J. BULGER has a terrific story to be told at its’ core – but with so many players and input from so many sources the story meanders during the telling. A wealth of information, interviews, FBI documents, detail and speculation are provided and there’s no doubt director Joe Berlinger has covered every angle possible in looking at this case. However, the material becomes somewhat akin to mud-slinging in a playground and a stronger focus on the essential narrative would have heightened the intrigue this movie could provide.

ALL THIS MAYHEM

In the 1980’s the face of skateboarding changed dramatically when two Australian brothers, Ben & Tas Pappas, burst onto the scene. The brothers took skateboarding to a whole new level with tricks and turns not seen on the ramps before and along with their new found fame came a rockstar lifestyle of partying, girls and drugs. In ALL THIS MAYHEM director Eddie Martin combines a huge wealth of archive footage and interviews with those who were with the brothers when they made it big to tell their cautionary tale of what happens when the good life comes crashing down around them. Their rivalry with Tony Hawk, which began before the 3 even met as Ben and Tas watched videos of the American in their basement, is also played out as the brothers watch the sport they love become more about showmanship and money than the skateboarding itself.

ALL THIS MAYHEM is a fascinating, funny and warm look into the rock star lifestyle of these skating stars who eat, live and breathe skateboarding to breaking point. The charisma and talent of the main players is at the forefront of this startling tale of just how quickly the brothers hit self-destruct.

For more information on these or any other of the documentaries screened at the festival head to the Sheffield Doc/Fest website.