By April MacIntyre Jun 23, 2008, 22:03 GMT
"Heavy Load" (9 p.m., IFC, 10 p.m., Pacific) is one of those unexpected joyful journeys that should not be missed by anyone. Especially those with loved ones who have any disabilities.
The raucous documentary is a thoughtful labor of love by director Jerry Rothwell, who profiles the band over several years. The band is three learning disabled talents from group homes and two of their social workers.
The guys can tear it up, and like any other band, their egos and personal paths of creative expression differ at times, and there is conflict.
Rothwell discovered the band by happenstance at a low moment in his life. Their story and infectious energy gave him so much joy he set out to film their progression as people and bandmates, warts and all.
Rothwell explained: "What drew me to Heavy Load was that they had found something that made them happy. They weren't in it for fame or celebrity. They were in it to just have a good time."
"I, meanwhile, was having the worst time of my life. Middle-aged exhausted and in mourning for everything I hadn't done, I latched onto them like a blood-sucking tick, filming their every move for more than a year and working my way deep into their lives. They say that the camera can steal your soul, and my filming seem to be subtly unraveling their happiness. I felt perhaps the presence of the cameras was destroying the very thing I was hoping to capture, introducing a set of new forces int the band dynamics - ambition, money, fame - which made them a better band, but a less happy one," shared Rothwell.
Rothwell does them justice, treats them like any other musicians and never panders or is condescending. The actual presence of the Rothwell's camera crew changes Heavy Load's dynamic, and journals the ebb and flow of band mates and dreams of each participant.
"Heavy Load" winds up booked in prestigious festival gigs and eventually is embraced by mainstream acts such as Wreckless Eric and even Kylie Minogue.
A wonderful journey and well worth your time.
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