Documazing!
Hot off the heels of recommending one enthralling documentary, I stumble into the gripping arms of another. This one isn’t a new release, it’s from 2008, but I just couldn’t let it go without a recommendation.
Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father, I can truthfully say, is one of the best documentaries I’ve ever seen. It doesn’t claim the top spot (still retained by My Date With Drew from 2004), but inched its way pretty damn close as I was watching it. In fact, much like My Date with Drew, there are precious few details about the “plot” that I can reveal for you. You simply have to watch the movie from start to finish with no prior knowledge and let the shocking events unfold before you in the same way it did to those involved.
Yeah you’re right, you probably won’t watch it then. I’ll have to tease you somehow. Okay, here’s what I’m prepared to say:
Dear Zachary came about as the result of the filmmaker’s best friend, Andrew, dying under mysterious circumstances. In order to both give an insight into who he was as a person and document the bizarre events surrounding his demise, director Kurt Kuenne began a trip across England, America and into Newfoundland to record the various memories, accounts, and stories, that were part of his life and his death. As Andrew’s son, Zachary, is about to be born, the film is structured as a sort of time capsule to show him when he is old enough to appreciate it. Hence; Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father. But that’s just the beginning…
The investigation into what actually happened to Andrew, and who is responsible for it, continues while the documentary is being made. Therefore, the purpose and direction of the documentary remains fluid as the narrative is being laid out for you. Did that make sense?
There’s a whole other half of this film (the second half), that I simply cannot tell you about, and that makes my job very hard. Please just trust me and sit through to the end.
Part of the film is structured like a CSI episode, except far more interesting because its real life, and the rest is a mixed assortment of reminiscence and musings on life, love, death, good, and evil. If you’re someone who’s going through a tough time in life and you’re (correctly or not) feeling sorry for yourself, then this documentary is one to watch. Very little in life can compare to the tragedy that continually escalates in this movie. At the same time, however, it will enrage you, sadden you, and then ultimately cheer you up to know that people can go through such heartbreak and come out the other side just as strong.
One of the more amazing things about it is the way it’s edited; fast and choppy, with a gripping pace and heart-pounding music to keep you hooked. In fact, it’s edited unlike any other documentary I’ve ever seen, and I dare predict that you will think the same.
Dear Zachary can be found on Youtube (in decent, but not fantastic, quality) at the following links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF8aS_jGXU0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FC2VLbpjQqM
Or, if you’re someone who prefers downloading to streaming, here are some torrent links:
http://kickass.to/dear-zachary-a-letter-to-a-son-about-his-father-divx-t2022633.html
http://kickass.to/dear-zachary-2008-dvdrip-xvid-vomit-t2089407.html
Or, indeed, if you’re the kind of person who likes to actually pay for the films you watch (Or you’ve seen the film and want to contribute financially to it by purchasing a copy), then here is the Amazon link where you can order it.
http://www.amazon.com/Dear-Zachary-Letter-About-Father/dp/B001M564BQ
The reason I’m including these links is not because i’m out-and-out supporting piracy, but because Dear Zachary is a very hard film to find but a very important one to watch. If you can find the time, please do so. It’s only an hour and a half long, and don’t worry…it will be worth it.
– Rant Over!
Cinema Rant 