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It seems fitting that a film this puzzling should have a review title as equally uncertain.

The trailer drew me in-it looked strange, intriguing, and unpredictable, so I had to watch. And while the film delivered on its promise of originality, I found it difficult to stay with at times. It felt like three films in one, operating on its own internal logic, untethered from conventional storytelling. That's not necessarily a criticism, but it left me unsure where I stood with it. It also lists "comedy" as a genre-really?

Visually, it's beautiful. Nearly every shot is framed with a fixed camera, and there's an unpolished elegance to the way it leans into natural or available light. It creates a mood-subtle, minimal, and deliberate. The sound design, too, is remarkably good: restrained, spacious, and clean.

As for the narrative-if there is one in the traditional sense-it's elusive. I had no idea where it was going, and just when you think you've grasped something, it shifts. This absence of clear direction can be refreshing, but the pacing tested my patience. Long, lingering shots stretch out scenes that could have said the same thing in half the time. More than once, I found myself fast-forwarding to get through a very long shot without dialogue.

It also gave the impression that the editor had been asked to use every piece of footage that was shot. There are scenes that, for me, simply didn't need to be there.

One aspect I especially appreciated was the scenes with the villagers-their dialogue around folklore, legends, mystery, and belief. While some might interpret these elements as primitive, I found them refreshing. They reflect something deeply human: the way many of us, in different parts of the world, make sense of events through internal systems of belief. The film doesn't explain or dismiss this-it simply presents it-and that, for me, was one of its more compelling touches.

There's a curious stillness throughout. Dialogue is sparse, especially from the lead, and many scenes unfold in silence. It has an eerie, ambiguous atmosphere-somewhere between fantasy and abstraction-but it's difficult to pin down exactly what tone it's aiming for. A more purposeful score might have helped draw out the emotional or thematic undercurrents.

I'm still unsure what the title refers to-even after watching to the end. I imagine it might make more sense on a second viewing or with the script in hand, which I'd genuinely like to read.

That said, it's a film worth watching, especially if you're drawn to experimental cinema or work that resists easy categorisation. Don't expect a traditional plot. You may not come away understanding it, but you'll likely remember its texture and tone. It's the kind of film you could leave playing in the background-dipping in and out-without ever quite grasping it. But maybe that's the point.

I watched it to the end on Kanopy, which is rare for me. Most of my films on other platforms remain half-finished. I stayed with this one, still wondering-right up to the last frame-where it was headed.

The Movie Man is a gem of a documentary-quiet, humble, and full of heart. It tells the story of Keith Stata, a man who, from childhood, dreamed of making films but never left his small Canadian hometown of Kinmount. Instead, he built a cinema there-and kept it alive for over four decades.

The film captures Keith's journey from making short films with friends as a boy, to working as a builder and then to creating his own cinema-one that has defied the odds. While cinemas around him shut down, Keith's remained open and even expanded. He salvaged hundreds of old projectors, rescued reels of film that would have been thrown away, and turned his cinema into a living trove of movie history.

What makes this film so special is its unfiltered honesty. Nothing is staged or polished. Keith swears like a trooper, and it's very, very funny. His natural charisma, his independence, and his love for cinema shine through every frame. Watching this is like sitting down with the man for a long chat-you're not watching a performance, you're spending time with someone real.

There are stunning moments shot in the deep Canadian winter-bears, raccoons, and skunks wandering through snow, all adding to the feeling that you're seeing a full and lived-in world. And let's not forget his trove of cats. It's not just Keith we see-it's how others respond to him. At the local fair, we watch people light up when they meet him. There's deep, heartfelt respect for a man who stayed, struggled, and built something lasting.

This documentary isn't just about film-it's about dedication, place, and the value of a life well lived. It's full of one-liners about life that you'll want to write down. It reflects on COVID, the closures, the loneliness-and finally, the return.

Hats off to the director and producers, who have made something so grounded, so touching, and so enduring. In just 90 minutes, we are offered a full and meaningful look at over 75 years of a man's life, his love of movies, and the people who've loved him back.

A wonderful achievement-and a wonderful life. I watched this film on Kanopy.