Cavedigger

It's tough for me to be objective because I do know the filmmaker. That said, I couldn't pull my eyes away from this documentary. Two thoughts on this film. First, the subject, Ra, creates these spectacular spaces/caves that need to be seen to be believed. Words don't really do his work justice. This movie shines a light on his work and it's special to get a window into his underground world.

Second, what I like so much about the film is, Jeffrey captures Ra's quirks and communicates his desire for underground perfection without ever pushing any sort of agenda. Put another way: It's very difficult to capture the intensity of a person like this in a subtle way. Jeff manages it without a hint of exposition.

Not surprising to me it was nominated for an Oscar.

Today I made my annual pilgrimage to the local theater to see all the Oscar-nominated Documentary Shorts. My good friend came with me and force once we were in agreement as to which shorts were strongest and weakest--which is a little unusual. Of the five documentaries, we both liked "Cavedigger" the least. And, when I came home and looked at the IMDb sites for all these shorts, I was shocked to see such an incredibly high rating for "Cavedigger". After all, it was a very slight film and took neither the risks of the best of the shorts ("Karama Has No Walls" where one cameraman actually got shot documenting the Yemeni democracy movement) nor had a emotional impact of "Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Jack Hall". While not a terrible film, its subject matter just didn't seem to merit a film this long--as about 10 minutes would have probably sufficed.

The story is about a very strange man named 'Ra'. Ra is an odd-ball--and would probably admit that readily. He lives in the art Mecca of Taos, New Mexico and even there among these bohemians, he's a stand-out! He has an obsession that consumes his life--digging tunnels and rooms into the very, very soft sandstone. Now I must admit that his artistry in making these is pretty impressive, though he never really makes any money doing this and is quite happy despite this. That's really all there is to the story--mildly interesting but hardly in the same league as the other shorts that were nominated.

Cavedigger is a beautifully crafted short documentary about a little known artist with a very unique art form. The production values are superb. Beautifully shot in New Mexico, it presents the artists milieu as well as a look at the private life and inner workings of what goes on in very special man's mind. It was completely absorbing throughout. I was so taken with the sensitivity Jeffrey Karoff showed to the artist during the time he followed him around. I loved the the scenic shots of New Mexico as well as the beautiful presentation of his art pieces. All in all, it was one of the most sensitive representation of an artist and his work.

Cavedigger takes you on the journey of Ra Paulette, a singular, driven man whose art is creating caves in the sandstone hills of New Mexico.

The word "caves" doesn't really do justice to what Ra creates, they are truly works of art that need to be seen, just as Cavedigger needs to be seen. It tells the tale of one man's need to express himself no matter the odds. His artistic goals sometimes run counter to those of his patrons, and his need to support his family, and his own race against time and age, working in an art form that's incredibly physically demanding.

The documentary does a terrific job showing how and why this man is determined never to stop. He says that there may be an end to his need to create, but after watching this mesmerizing film, that's hard to imagine. For him, it's a spiritual journey, and Cavedigger itself is a journey into both the art he creates and the driven soul behind the art.

Jeffrey Karoff has created a deep, rich exploration of a man who creates wondrous spaces dug out of the sides of mountains. The title is just a teaser as to the reality of his projects. Cave is defined as:

noun 1. a hollow in the earth, especially one opening more or less horizontally into a hill, mountain, etc.

Thus one thinks of something completely different than the brightly lit living spaces created by this artist. Not only does Karoff show the creation of the caves, but digs into the life of the artist and shows his personal and business relationships as well, All this done with a light touch, that leaves the documentarian completely in the background without distraction from the main focus. Words are inadequate to describe this piece and you must see it to get the full impact of the enormity of this artist's work. Thumbs up!