Review of Minding the Gap (2018) by Maria D — 06 Oct 2018

I came across this gem at the Telluride Mountain Film at the suggestion from Barry Jenkins. Simply put, this was one of the best documentaries in years and deserves the Oscar for best documentary this year.

What may seem like a boyhood skateboarding movie is so much more about the state of America and the ones who are often left behind, struggling to live a better life as each character face the reality of adulthood, history of abuse, and a town that's struggling for a better life.

It weaves the story of three young men, and a young woman as they try for a better life in midwest USA. Each heart break, each secret, each bad decision, and ultimately each hope are told beautifully from an autobiographical lense of Bing Liu, a brilliant young film maker who shares something so personal that you may feel like an intruder or a therapist who's uncovering layers of mystery and history.

In the process, one can hope that there's a process of healing in telling the story and that each of the characters are learning to forgive, love, and ultimately become better version of themselves.

This is a stunning documentary that won both the Juror and Audience Awards at Telluride Mountainfilm. Sometimes a little movie comes along and reminds us the power of story telling and it's ability to move your soul, mind, and heart.

This movie is bound to linger in your mind for days after watching. It's a stunning debut that deserves an Oscar for best documentary.