Darwin (Nick Brandestini, 2010): USA

Reviewed by Laura Horstmann. Viewed at the Santa Barbara Film Festival.

Darwin is a documentary about a very small town on the outskirts of Death Valley, CA with a population of 35 and extremely outdated politics and practices. People who have not found a place in the modern world find solace in Darwin and build lives suited to their eccentricities.

Darwin used to be a booming mining town with a population that peaked at 3500. But a bad reputation for violence and an inhospitable climate quickly shrank that population down to it’s current 35. The film is composed of interviews with various residents, footage of the run down town it’s self, and a few short scenes of the resident’s interacting.  Most of their interaction is done at the post office, where the only job in town is held or at the water board meetings, which have often resulted in brawls. The resident’s discuss Darwin’s history, show the filmmaker’s around the town and their homes, and discuss their beliefs about life, politics, and religion.

As the film progresses and the resident’s selflessly offer their stories, the audience begins realize that the resident’s of Darwin are no different from themselves. Just like everyone else, they have suffered heartache, loss, pain, and been through the extreme struggle of being human.  The audience’s first reaction is to laugh at this dilapidated town and it’s outrageous residents but as director Nick Brandestini takes us deeper into their lives, Darwin breaks your heart.

Being from a similar small town in Northern California myself, Darwin didn’t shock me. I knew these people. They were my neighbors and the people I grew up around. I knew that they were strange, bizarre, and at times ignorant people, but I also knew that they were just that, people. The film does an excellent job showcasing a community on the fringe of society in a positive light and I was able to enjoy it immensely.

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Published:
02.15.11 / 1pm
Category:
Films, Santa Barbara Film Festival 2011