Directors: James Moore, William Spicer
Featuring: Kate Spicer, Tom Spicer, William Spicer
Running Time: 74 minutes
Certificate: Exempt
Extras: Interview with Lars Ulrich, Trailer, Interview With Tom Spicer
Documentary MISSION TO LARS focuses on Tom Spicer, who has Fragil-X Syndrome, his sister Kate and brother Will’s attempts to meet Lars Ulrich, drummer for Metallica. Hooray you holler, but wait, this documentary comes with cynicism.
At 74 minutes long, MISSION TO LARS should be a breeze through a few troubles before an emotional ending made to give the tear ducts a workout. Sadly, two elements ensure this simplicity isn’t present – Kate and Will. For 20 minutes the viewer is pulverised with their wishes that ‘they’d been there for Tom’, ‘spent more time with him’, and ‘knew him’. For them this journey starts as a way to make themselves feel better. They are uninterested in Tom’s social problems, the fact he could be scared to leave his Bristol care home and worst of all seem blasé about the fact he doesn’t seem to like them. They wrap themselves in a cocoon of sycophancy whilst asking Tom every 30 seconds ‘are you ok?’ Fortunately about halfway through they seem to realise the repugnance of their ignorance and begin listening to Tom, understand his concerns and learn what his illness actually means to him. From here the light is bright, the family are together and of course we get the happy ending.
MISSION TO LARS is an eye-opening and deeply flawed documentary, but this is its charm. Watching it will open your eyes to the ignorance many have towards mental illness and enable us to reach out. Kate and Will begin the documentary blind, they leave with 20/20 vision, you could to. As for Tom? If you’ve a dry eye come the end you’re made of stone.
Extras: A good couple of interviews and a trailer for you, but they add little to the overall experience.
MISSION TO LARS is available on DVD and Blu-ray 8th April
