I just watched the interview with Wiseman, and I have to say he is not at all as I pictured him. I thought him to be a pseudo-artist all caught up in his own ego, from the kind of movies he makes, and how he doesn’t believe anything aside from raw film can be considered a documentary. Instead he seemed to be a genuine artist doing something he loved.
Prior to watching High School, I was a little shaky on this form of documentary. Truthfully, it doesn’t seem like great fun to watch on paper, but it really is magic once Wiseman brings it to life. I find it wonderful how he can just string together various clips he’s taken and form a narrative purely based on observation. The fact that he doesn’t clearly state anything, I find alluring. There is a beauty to simplicity, and letting actions speak for themselves, and this film (and I hope other films he makes) captures this so precisely.
I didn’t get the desired effect immediately after viewing, but on my drive home last week I passed by my old high school (which I do every day), and was hit with a wave of nostalgia brought on by the film. That’s when I realized how well that film captured high school life. It really shocked me that generational struggles are a constant in high school, I know it makes sense, but I thought there would be some evolution in school dynamic over the course of 50 years.
I walked away from this film with a great respect for what Wiseman makes, as well as a hunger to watch a few more of his movies.
I agree with you that Wiseman’s films tend to provoke one kind of reaction upon viewing but then stick with you after you’ve seen them and bring all sorts of reactions – and yes nostalgic ones for sure. It’s interesting that leaving campus last week took you by your HS after having seen the movie – perhaps you appreciated something about your school that you hadn’t when you were a student there? Wiseman’s film certainly makes me think a bit better about my HS teachers and administrators. (nice post title too!)