Review of The Man Whose Mind Exploded (2014) by Jim F — 16 Dec 2014

From its opening shot on Brighton's nudist beach where the filmmaker and his subject bare all, this is a brave and beautiful film. On a human level, we can all learn a lot from Drako's pure, living in the moment visions and ideologies. As filmmakers we should all respect what has been achieved here. This film has a small budget but a big heart.

It feels like something iconic has been created here - visually the incredible, paper mind explosions in Drako's apartment are powerful enough to create their own legends. The fact that they are often sexually explicit reminders, offered the director the opportunity to create some real humour in creating subtle juxtapositions, of the darker issues of Drako's existence and the lighter pornographic imagery surrounding him, quietly swaying around the ceiling above him.

In terms of the film's lead character. Drako's exotic connections to Dali and Derek Jarman bestow him with a quiet legendary status and glimpses of his former existence add a deep level of humanity. That the film has chosen to deal with what Drako has become not what he was is what makes it a truly of the moment documentary.

You will fall in love with Drako. This film has given him the chance to be himself without judging him, and I am really glad his life has been captured on camera like this, nipples and all.