This is the thread where we discuss matters pertaining to the detrius that accompanies the "End of the Year AND DECADE in Cinema" -- 2019

I will say I think cutting a check and sharing in the good fortune of the movie with its subjects is one thing, and admirable -- what I find inappropriate is the extent to which the filmmakers became involved in her life, whatever their intentions were.

well they clearly got heavily involved in both families' lives in the process of filming! They just never disentangled.

I don't think it's despicable? ethically fraught, sure. but when you spend a lot of time around specific humans, these things can happen.

You're right, too harsh a word. But this is the A1 rule of documentary filmmaking, and yes, these things happen, they are human--they still failed to do their job and "disentangle" from the family.

true. Herzog's almost certainly done worse of course

I haven't seen the film or read the piece, so I'm just responding to what I take is the general gist of the story. I've mentioned this anecdote before. At a Q&A with Frederick Wiseman after a screening of Juvenile Court, I asked him if he followed up with any of the kids he filmed. His answer was four or five words--I forget exactly what he said, but the unmistakable message was no, of course not, and that I'd asked the dumbest question in the world.

Other end of the spectrum: Steve James and Stevie.

(Or not--James had a relationship with Stevie Fielding that predated the film by a decade.)

now, conversely, I'm wondering to what extent the subjects of The Act of Killing keep an eye on Josh Oppenheimer and co....

now, conversely, I'm wondering to what extent the subjects of _The Act of Killing_ keep an eye on Josh Oppenheimer and co....

I haven't seen the film or read the piece, so I'm just responding to what I take is the general gist of the story. I've mentioned this anecdote before. At a Q&A with Frederick Wiseman after a screening of _Juvenile Court_, I asked him if he followed up with any of the kids he filmed. His answer was four or five words--I forget exactly what he said, but the unmistakable message was no, of course not, and that I'd asked the dumbest question in the world.