This was my second Ebertfest. Last year, I worked as a volunteer/intern for the film festival, so I got to sneak into a couple films. I have to admit that this year has been hectic for me, so I didn’t realize Ebertfest was just around the corner until Professor Baird mentioned it in class. So, I scrambled over to Virginia Theater for the four o’clock show. I also must admit that I didn’t know which movie I would be watching.

This is something I noticed last year: the demographics at Ebertfest are not what one would call diverse. I felt young standing in the crowd in front of the theater. Perhaps it was because the show time was earlier in the day, but it was hard to find people who fit the typical university age range. It would be great if the film festival could expand its audience.

After a quick Google search of the film I would be watching, Moving Midway, the lights dimmed, and the feature began. Obviously, I had little to no expectation going into the film this way. Still, the premise sounded interesting. The plot centers on moving Midway Plantation. After generations of literally keeping their ground, the owners of the plantation (Charlie and Dena) decide to move the plantation.

The family is leaving behind decades of tradition. But, in the process of uprooting, basically, their legacy, the Hintons are discovering a new family history. As former slave owners, the family “bred two sets of Hintons, one white, one black” (Cheshire). The single act of moving Midway Plantation sheds lights on multiple themes: the definition of family, the visibility/invisibility of race, ownership, and the reclamation of history.

I’m actually glad that I went into this movie little expectations because I loved it. The story quickly draws in the audience; an hour and thirty minutes flies by. Another aspect that made this film so entertaining was the characters. I think I was laughing through most of the film. Each major character is so dynamic and witty; their personalities gave life to this documentary.

One of the most heartwarming parts of Moving Midway is being able to watch how the Hintons redefine what “family” means to them. The first Hinton family gathering is vastly different from the Hinton family gathering at the new Midway Plantation. It is fascinating to be able to see the “black” and “white” Hintons literally and figuratively coming together. Through this rediscovery of family, the Hintons are not only preserving tradition but also reclaiming their place in history. This reclamation of history is highlighted when the “black Hintons” are invited into the new Midway Plantation; one of the relatives asks if he can come in. This moment is both heartwarming and heart-wrenching. The fact that people who rightfully belong in this place find it hard to believe that they are allowed to enter the house is heart breaking. It also proves that we are not free from this moment in history. Racism is still very much a relevant issue.

Moving Midway is quietly heartwarming; there is nothing forced or inorganic about this documentary. I appreciate the depth beneath the humor and lightheartedness.

Cheshire, Godfrey. “Moving Midway.” IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2015. <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1051245/>.

A couple weeks ago, I read a film review Roger Ebert wrote for Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress. He was unimpressed by the film, while I enjoyed it. Naturally, I disagreed wholeheartedly with what he had to say about the film. So, when I looked for Ebert’s review of my favorite film, Scent of a Woman, I was slightly worried about what I would read.

I was worried for no reason: Roger Ebert gave the film a rating of 3.5 out of 4 stars. What’s more, Ebert praised every aspect of the film that I love.

Whenever someone asks me why I love this film so much, I tell them it’s because the story is an atypically typical. Ebert writes, “by the end of the film we have arrived at the usual conclusion of the coming-of-age movie, and the usual conclusion of the prep school movie. But rarely have we been taken there with so much intelligence and skill.” Scent of a Woman makes us think about what it means to live. It also makes us take a step back and think about the people in our lives; what we see is not everything.

Roger Ebert also mentions the tango scene which is my favorite scene from the film (someone tango with me like Al Pacino, please!).

“There is something so touching with [Colonel Slade.” Like Ebert says, Slade is not your typical like-able guy. He’s quite mean, actually. But, his relationship with Charlie and the bond that they form kind of makes you feel bad for disliking questioning Slade’s character.

In terms of the film review, I was refreshed after reading it. Ebert’s review elucidates everything about this film that makes it unique. I feel like I never do this film justice when I try to explain why it’s so great. The next time someone asks me about Scent of a Woman I’ll just direct them to Ebert’s review. He says everything I want to say with so much more ease and clarity.

http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/scent-of-a-woman-1992