FILM REVIEW: Documentary Shorts #3 - Bolton Film Festival

2 more documentary films shown as part of this year's online Bolton Film Festival.

1. Test Subjects - USA - Dir: Alex Lockwood

In this documentary, we hear from three women doctors who have had to test on animals as part of their training, and even been made to invent experiments in order to get the correct grades etc. The whole film in fact is nothing less than a damning endictment on the US science teaching laboratories and their teaching staff and their grading systems. It seems that testing on animals - and by that we are talking hundreds not just one or two for each experiment - is a pre-requisite of learning about human medicine and deseases. The film argues, quite rightly, that learning what effects cancer has on rats or whether we can cure tuberculosis in a guinea pig has absolutely nothing to do with humans and human biology. Humans are different and all animals react differently with different tolerances and outcomes. And yet, the US system still prevails, and even tries to suppress you if you dare to say anything against whilst training, threatening to fail the student or worse.

The three women who have now passed all of their training are no longer working in the field they trained for but instead are putting their knowledge and passion, as well as their love for animals, to much better use by actively campaigning against it. 

Compelling viewing, simply and empathetically told.

2. Out Of The Blue - USA - Dir: Jonathan Bregal and Steve Hoover.

Here we are shown a 78 year old man from Baltimore USA, who has decided to have his entire body tattooed, mostly blue. Just for the simple reason that he wanted to. He is a retired city planner and is very proud of the acheivements he made whilst working, but now he needs new stimuli. For example, he has had three plastic balls inserted into his scrotum, making him the only man in the world with blue skin and 5 balls!

He is unashamendly homosexual, and although he is content with living in Baltimore, he feels it is now about time for a change and talks of wanting to go to live in Texas. He is also beginning to lose his memory, but tries to make every moment count. 

There is no point to this documentary other than to make you aware of the existence of this man, and in that respect the film ticks all the boxes.

Reviewer - Matthew Dougall

on - 19/10/20