This week we screened Sandi Simcha DuBowski's film Trembling Before G-d (2001) to begin our exploration of 21st Century Docs. I chose this film to begin the course in part because of the questions it raises:
Is it possible to reconcile tradition with modernity? Why or why not? And if yes, how?
Who gets to decide who is "inside" and who is "outside" within communities? Are these boundaries always clearly defined or is there some fluidity?
Why do we need communities in the first place? What do we get out of them, especially when they can cause so much pain?
How do you balance the private or personal with the public?
How can one use documentary for activism? In his interview with FYI magazine, DuBowski maintains that "this film was not just a movie, but the seeds of a movement." What's the most effective (and affective) way to use film for social change?
What is the role of the documentary filmmaker vis-a-vis his or her subjects? In his interview with Lucy Walker and Carey Monserrate, DuBowski claims that he is "an interventionist" but also admits to struggling with his responsibilities as a film director. His interview concludes with him asking when should be he a director and when should he be an interventionist when interviewing his subjects.
These are just some of the issues that preoccupy many contemporary documentary filmmakers, and these topics are all explored in some way Trembling Before G-d.
So, what do you think? What are your views on the questions posed above? And how do you think DuBowski addresses these questions in his documentary?
