Frank and Cindy (G.J. Echternkamp, 2007): USA

Reviewed by Richard Feilden. Viewed at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

Frank and Cindy, the first film by director G.J. Echternkamp, treads a fine line. The documentary journey through a year in the life of his family could have easily slipped into farce, bitterness or a wailing, miserable dirge about the unbearable pressures of living with his parents. Thankfully the director managed to avoid all of these pitfalls and produce a funny, often poignant and finally touching slice of life in his film, shown at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.Frank Garcia, Echternkamp’s step father should need no introduction. After all, along with the other members of OXO he should be a household name. His mantelpiece should be littered with Grammies; he should be attending red-carpet galas with the cream of the music industry; he should be successful, famous and rich. At least, that was what Cindy thought when Frank, many years her junior, proposed to her in the midst of the whirlwind that followed OXO’s hit, Whirly Girl. Yes, their hit. Their one and only, solitary, single, never to be repeated, once in a lifetime, hit. More than twenty years after the event, Cindy’s son decided to pick up his camera and record the circus that was his life. Initially intending to produce a piece to amuse his friends by mocking his parents, Echternkamp.’s project grew into a 73 minute documentary about their individual fights with alcoholism, a marriage that seems on the verge of disintegration, regrets, shattered dreams and sheer, blind optimism. That he manages to portray these two larger than life individuals without reducing them to caricatures, that he makes them funny, monstrous, pathetic and sympathetic by turn is the key to this film. The film doesn’t pull its punches as it explores Cindy’s issues as a mother to the young Echternkamp, nor Frank’s battle to lift himself from wine-fuelled fog he propels himself into everyday in the cellar Cindy has banished him to. Yet as the film progresses the love, compassion and need to do the right thing that drives these flawed souls onward is revealed, but without a cloying, saccharine taint that could have undone all the directors hard work.

Of particular note is a scene where Cindy, at his behest, pores over old photographs and scrapbooks of her son. Missed birthdays sadden her, but the reaction when she finds a series of get-well-soon letters, written by his classmates following an auto wreck is terrible yet wonderful to watch. The remorse written across Cindy’s face is truly heartbreaking. Equally powerful is a scene where Frank turns on G.J., not because he feels uncomfortable having his actions taped and his life exposed, but to protect Cindy who, for the first time, has become upset by the recording. It adds another facet to the picture of Frank and brings the audience closer to a potentially unlikable or pitiable character.

This is not a film which is creating a huge buzz at the festival. Due to the locations in which it is playing it is not being seen by large numbers of people. However those of us who have been lucky enough to spend 73 minutes in the company of Frank and Cindy have discovered an absolute gem of a film. It’s our little secret, but if there is any justice in the world, it won’t stay that way for long.