Darwin (film)
Encyclopedia
Darwin is a 2011 documentary film
directed by Nick Brandestini. It is a portrait of the small and remote community of Darwin
, located in California’s Mojave Desert
. The film was released to good reviews at film festivals throughout the world and also had a limited theatrical release in the USA.
, a "category A" film festival
according to the FIAPF
organization.
In August 2011, the film had a limited theatrical run in New York and Los Angeles as part of the 15th Annual DocuWeeks Theatrical Documentary Showcase. Darwin also played at film festivals in the United Kingdom, Germany, New Zealand, Norway, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, and Switzerland.
gave the film 5 out of 5 stars and called it "a beautiful, elegiac work with unexpected impact and meaning." Jeannette Catsoulis of the New York Times also praised the film, calling it "a droll and dusty portrait of a place where privacy is prized and boundaries respected." The film was also well received at the BFI London Film Festival where it was a Time Out London critics' choice.
As of November 2011, Darwin holds an 88% rating on the film review site Rotten Tomatoes
.
Darwin won several awards at international film festivals, among others the "Best documentary award" at the Austin Film Festival, the "Best German language documentary" award at the Zurich Film Festival, the "Festival favorite award" at the Sonoma International Film Festival, and a "Special jury mention award" at the DocAviv Film Festival.
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
directed by Nick Brandestini. It is a portrait of the small and remote community of Darwin
Darwin, California
Darwin is a census-designated place in Inyo County, California, United States. Darwin is located southeast of Keeler, at an elevation of 4790 feet . The population was 43 at the 2010 census, down from 54 at the 2000 census. It is named after Dr...
, located in California’s Mojave Desert
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
. The film was released to good reviews at film festivals throughout the world and also had a limited theatrical release in the USA.
Synopsis
Darwin is a documentary film about an isolated community at the end of a weathered road in Death Valley, California. Propelled from society by tragic turns, the people of Darwin (population 35) must now find ways to coexist in a place without a government, a church, jobs, or children. The near-ghost town's survival depends on a fragile, gravity-fed waterline that descends from the mountains where top secret weapons are being tested. One "accidental" drop of a bomb, they half-joke, could wipe out their entire town. The film tells the story of a uniquely American place and yet a place that is unique even within America.Release
The film premiered at the 2011 Santa Barbara International Film Festival. It went on to play at numerous US and Canadian film festivals. The European premiere of Darwin took place at the Karlovy Vary International Film FestivalKarlovy Vary International Film Festival
The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival is a film festival held annually in July in Karlovy Vary , Czech Republic. The Karlovy Vary Festival gained worldwide recognition over the past years and has become one of Europe's major film events....
, a "category A" film festival
Film festival
A film festival is an organised, extended presentation of films in one or more movie theaters or screening venues, usually in a single locality. More and more often film festivals show part of their films to the public by adding outdoor movie screenings...
according to the FIAPF
FIAPF
The FIAPF based in Paris, created in 1933, is an organization composed with 31 member associations from 25 of the leading audiovisual production countries...
organization.
In August 2011, the film had a limited theatrical run in New York and Los Angeles as part of the 15th Annual DocuWeeks Theatrical Documentary Showcase. Darwin also played at film festivals in the United Kingdom, Germany, New Zealand, Norway, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, and Switzerland.
Critical reaction
Darwin received positive reviews from critics. Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
gave the film 5 out of 5 stars and called it "a beautiful, elegiac work with unexpected impact and meaning." Jeannette Catsoulis of the New York Times also praised the film, calling it "a droll and dusty portrait of a place where privacy is prized and boundaries respected." The film was also well received at the BFI London Film Festival where it was a Time Out London critics' choice.
As of November 2011, Darwin holds an 88% rating on the film review site Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
.
Darwin won several awards at international film festivals, among others the "Best documentary award" at the Austin Film Festival, the "Best German language documentary" award at the Zurich Film Festival, the "Festival favorite award" at the Sonoma International Film Festival, and a "Special jury mention award" at the DocAviv Film Festival.