Starbuck (Ken Scott, 2011): Canada

Reviewed by Lulu Yamaguchi.  Viewed at Santa Barbara Film Festival.

Starbuck is not a story about the coffee shop. Main therme of this movie is family. When movies tells what family is, how men mentally grow up or how men become a father, it tends to little bit hammy often. Starbuck tells these theme  in funny way and its not include judgement.

This is a story about a guy who has 533 children. David Wozniak is early 40 years old man who lives irresponsible life. It is impossible for normal person to have 533 children but David is not a normal and it is possible in the science world. When he was teenager, he donate sperm under pseudonym “Starbuck”.  One day, he knew that his girlfriend pregnant. At the same time, he also knew that he has 533 children and got envelop which is filled each of his 142 of children’s information. First he throw away the information because he couldn’t accept the truth. But then he has curiosity. He picks up a pice of paper from the envelop and starts to contact his children. One is professional soccer player, another is waiter, ex-addicted, singer at a subway,  worker of swimming poor…etc…

A point of view is unique.  In a middle of the film, David joined 142 children’s camp accidentally. It looks like school camp. Same ages boys and girls gather   to know each other. Once I wish that all of my school friends were my brother and sister then we could have a strong bond forever. Maybe it was because I was afraid to grow up. I was scared to loose connection between them.  I know one of my friend has 10 brothers and sisters. I believe that is about maximum number of brothers to have…

However this movie shows me that we may have 533 brothers and sisters, It is still unrealistic story though. I am jealous that David’s children has strong connection which I wished.  At the beginning, David doesn’t admit he is father of them but quickly he learns what father is  after he contacts with them. He acts like a father. Or more than average father. He can cheer his son sing at subway station because he is stranger. He can follow his daughter to protect her because he is stranger.