Review of Coven (1997) by Curtis W — 09 May 2010

For some reason, Capturing the Friedmans came to mind while watching the documentary, American Movie. Not that there was anything sinister going on, like pedophilia. But in tone, capturing the breakdowns and weaknesses of Mark Borchardt - high school dropout, paperboy, cemetery caretaker, drunk, divorced dad and independent filmmaker.

American Movie chronicles Mark's efforts to make a full-length feature, Northwestern, which he abandons to first finish his short film, Coven, thinking he'll be able to raise money to do Northwestern.

It's a struggle. He has to borrow money from his elderly uncle. He enlists the help of all his friends and his family, going as far as pressing his mother into service as an extra for a wintertime woodland scene at a state park.

He's also dealing with problems of alcoholism and divorce, though he proves to be a patient and caring father, even if his kids are forced to spend nights camping out on the floor of the editing room.

He recognizes, I think, that he has a problem with drinking, as this is an issue being dealt with in Coven. Plus, his good friend Mike, is in recovery.

Well, it's a pretty good documentary. Really takes me back to those depressing, frustrating times in the Midwest. Mark is based in Wisconsin, a fact that also brought to mind Werner Herzog's Stroszek, and the depressing picture that movie painted.

Coven, best watched I believe as a companion piece to American Movie, is a trip, a testament to what a guy and an idea an a movie camera can accomplish. It's a beautiful little film, though it's not so smooth. But perhaps that is also the beauty of it.