Amargosa

I lasted almost ninety minutes through this dreadful movie waiting for some revelation about dance or spirit or inspiration or something and gave up! What possessed the filmmakers to do this? This is an old woman of limited talent who is obsessed with herself and nothing else. To fill in a story without a point we get some stuff about the other folks in her thrall, her aid to burros, and, of course, her ten cats! Do not see this film. And have nothing more to do with anybody who loved it - they do not have a clue. There are fascinating people in this world with wonderful stories to tell and insights to share - but Marta Becket is not one of them. The people I took to this movie say they have forgiven me - but that they will never, ever stop kidding me about it.

On a busy Sunday morning when I was trying to fit in my 3 mile walk, opening my store and getting ready, I accidentally came upon this movie on the Sundance channel. I had many things on my plate, but was immediately engrossed in this movie, it had already started. I watched while getting ready and finally had to leave for my duties 20 minutes before its end, during my walk I vowed I would go immediately on line and check out the details of it on IMDB and would check the website of the Sundance Film Channel for future showings, I happily found all I was looking for. I live in Nevada and so what intrigued me most was her love for the desert and the familiarity of the landscape to where I live, her story only made it a thousand times better. It covered everything, from her relationship with both mother and father and which would perhaps have the most influence on who she became, to the wild mustangs, her cats, her relationship with the few people around her, her vast community (vast measured by miles away from her since there is only a population of 10), her love life, I was absolutely fascinated. However, what touched me most was her story of the lecture she gave to some photography students when one student asked her how you get those who love you to understand your devotion to your art ......... when at that very moment she was going through the end of her marriage because of that very reason. I understand this completely. Ultimately, every movie we see is defined by the person seeing it and maybe not even by the person who made it or the character itself, what made me love this movie is that it touched a chord in me and that she epitomized the american spirit in the way she did what she was meant to do, her art, against many odds, both physical and emotionally. What a fascinating woman! and what a glorious life she lived in this desolate part of the west !

I was fortunate enough to see this at the International Film Festival at L.A. in 2000. It so happened that Marta and Tom were in the audience two seats ahead of me. It was fun to watch their reactions to the audience and the film as the film played.

I've been fascinated with Death Valley every since I first visited it. The story of Marta Becket and The Amargosa Opera House which she created is equally fascinating. It is the story of Marta dealing with her personal demons, her disapproving father, her life as a up and coming New York City artist, her escape, the way she found Amargosa and what she has done with it. The film does a good job showing the complete isolation and desolation of the land for miles and miles around Death Valley Junction. How did a sophisticate from NYC end up there? It is the middle of nowhere, yet there the Amargosa Opera House flourishes thanks to this amazing woman.

You owe it to yourself to see this film.

"I remember waiting to be born..."

"Vision quest that was the American West."

"We went to a psychic..."

"I'm sure their first reaction is that she's cuckoo"

"...the place is haunted..."

"I think there's another dimension right here."

An artist (Marta Becket) and her husband many decades ago left the hustle and bustle and culture of New York and moved to a god-forsaken town with a population of 10 in Death Valley. There, they renovated a theater--painting it is a very home-spun/folk art manner. And, once finished, she bega putting on dancing performances for practically no one. In many ways, it's highly reminiscent of the Werner Herzog film FITZCARRALDO or FIELD OF DREAMS--though AMARGOSA is a documentary of a real person--not a mythical crazy man like Klaus Kinski or Kevin Costner. Her husband eventually leaves--much of it apparently because of the lifestyle she chose. So, today she lives on with her ten cats and a sanctuary for burros eventually along with her new male companion, Tom.

What you think about this documentary depends on your perspectives. If you are into New Age ideas and open to these sensibilities, then you'll more likely appreciate the film. Her talking about how she remembers her birth, ghosts, vision quests and psychics frankly made the psychology teacher in me cringe and this would definitely be the case for many people. In addition, her burro sanctuary and trying to preserve horses in the desert will most likely appeal to PETA and many other animal lovers, though with my background in environmental concerns and biology, I see the burros and horses as a blight that would destroy the native plants and animals. So on two different accounts, I tend to think quite the opposite of Marta--who is more of a "feeler" and "sensing" individual. Depending on how you feel about all this will definitely color your opinions--and I am pretty sure most people will either think she's a genius or a nut! You'll just have to guess what I think.

Now despite all this, the film is interesting and Marta's life is definitely NOT dull--particularly since in recent years, people have actually begun taking trips to the desert to see her perform. There is a definite following for her and her unusual little world. While I would not be nearly as positive as most reviews, I also can't be as negative as the one review, as there is definite merit to this odd documentary. I like films about unusual people and Marta certainly is unusual! I also appreciate her love of her art and happy life--that is a rare gift.

I teach psychology at an arts school and it sure would be interesting to show this to the staff--where I am pretty sure we'd get a strong positive and negative reaction to the film--probably depending on whether the teachers taught the arts classes or core curriculum! It sure would be interesting.

By the way, and I am not trying to be sarcastic, but when Marta's husband was having affairs, with whom did this occur?! After all, they lived in the middle of no where and I was left wondering where he'd find partners.

By the way, if you'd like to see her perform and/or stay at her hotel, it can be found at www.amargosaoperahouse.com/ . The site is in English, French and German and hotel rates are pretty reasonable as are ticket prices.

I probably would not have checked this movie out had I not stumbled upon the Amargosa Opera House near Death Valley a few years ago.

I'm glad I did as the artist's story was compelling and quite touching. The film went into directions that were unexpected, and not specifically related to her art--like the ghosts of the old hotel and Marta Becket's love of animals. These diversions made the film more engrossing, although those who felt Marta was too self-absorbed probably gave up on the film long before these segments. A documentary is only as good as its subject and this one is fortunate to have someone who I found to be fascinating.