Taking My Parents to Burning Man

Many movie-makers find a captivating contrast but few work it as intelligent as Taking My Parents to Burning Man. It is rare that you find yourself laughing continuously at a documentary that feels this honest yet is smart and sophisticated. It is a 10k$ school project, but feels as professional as prime time TV or a blockbuster.

The contrast is the director's (Bryant Boesen) parents' going to the radical self-expression festival, Burning Man. As somebody who never heard about the festival, within minutes, I had a clear idea about it. By the end, I knew what it was about, and I had had my best laugh in some time.

It is easy to watch, gets your attention immediately and keeps you laughing throughout as you learn what Burning Man is about and how the parents of this radically-dressed young director interact with it. It is a refreshing change from the complicated world of independent movies.

It's been a decade since I last stepped foot on the playa, and I've been yearning for it again, so dug into some newer documentaries about the event, including this one. Seeing this free-spirited Canadian kid who spends his life DJing and festival hopping coordinate (poorly) the transportation of his parents to Burning Man in an old school bus, and then spending the event with them and documenting their discovery of it was very enjoyable. Although documenting or even experiencing all that such a huge event has to offer is impossible, his parents clearly made an effort to be open to new ideas and exploring as much as they could, day and night. Sharing their 'aha' moments when their preconceptions were erased by direct experience was heartwarming, notably his father describing the lights at night and his mother talking about whether she would return again.

I recently had the pleasure to view this film that won the Audience Award at the 2014 Newport Beach Film Festival. It's an excellent documentary that will have you laughing throughout. The film takes you on a journey through highs and lows as Spry Bry and his parents experience Burning Man and the emotions that come with it.Visit "Taking My Parents to Burning Man" on Facebook for upcoming dates and locations. The documentary is quickly selling out screenings at all the festival's that it's shown at. Both screenings at NBFF were sold out. I had much anticipation as I waited for the opportunity to view this film. As it states in the title, this documentary exceeded the festival buzz at NBFF.

I don't even know if this counts as anything since i only watched the film for about two minutes. But those two minutes was tough enough. Let me tell you. Not because the production was too slick or too shabby, not because I found something els to occupy my mind. But because of the horrible music score. What is going on with that music? Assuming there are more people behind the making of this film other than the guy and his mom and dad; Did everyone in the production OK this? What kind of a message do these people try to convey? Are they trying to change the world and to summon the deepest of inspirations while asking strangers on the street if they know what Burning man is? It confuses me. The thoughts in my mind are "Do they really need to drench this film in this sentimental bullshit this early? Are the people behind this film into this kind of bullshit Disney sentimentality? Is my life long enough to take a the chance that the producer insisted against the film maker's tortured soul? Is it better to use my time to, for the first time ever in my life, review something, and especially when i haven't even seen the damn thing? Yes." It really pisses me off. It is not good style to push the audience around with those cynical "how to make people feel puppy love-soundtracks". It calculated, unoriginal, cliché and irritating. Try scoring the film after you've done some dope at Burning Man. So much anger after two minutes. It would have risky watching the whole thing.

...about Burning Man people are the WORST people. But I will say this was a very boring documentary. Burning Man is huge though. If your into that, it may be a blast.