Review of Following Sean (2006) by Walter M — 29 Nov 2007

[font=Century Gothic]In the 1960's filmmaker Ralph Arlyck lived for a time in the legendary Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco. While there, he befriended a 4-year old boy, Sean Farrell, who he made a documentary about. "Following Sean" is a documentary Arlyck made about his return to San Francisco thirty years later to find out whatever happened to Sean. And the results are not pretty, least of all because Arlyck rips off the "7-Up" series in the process.[/font].

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[font=Century Gothic]In love with his own droning voice, Arlyck is bitter about his whole experience in San Francisco(he reveals too much about his personal life which only makes him seem a little pathetic) where he was present for history as it was being made, some of it he caught on film.(C'mon, man. At least, admit you had a little fun.)The fact that Sean turns out to be so well-adjusted destroys Arlyck's thesis that the 60's had a toxic legacy.(I do respect him for not romanticizing the era but this is ridiculous.) So, he turns his anger against Sean's father who is a bit of a drifter and takes him to task for his lack of a work ethic. But unless you are a public servant, your life will not be defined by your job.(I would love to sit on a beach all day and write hideously bad poetry but I am too materialistic for my own good.) [/font].

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