310. Sound For The Future; movie review

 

SOUND FOR THE FUTURE

Cert 15

102 mins

BBFC advice: Contains drug references, strong language, discrimination, sex references

When our kids were growing up they created a 'band' with their pals in the avenue.

I am pretty sure there were no instruments but everyone had their designated roles - I have a feeling that our son, who is now a teacher, was the manager.

Anyway, they had the usual laughs and bust-ups. They were very serious about it at the time but, as with all childish things, they moved on to something else.

It seems inconceivable that a movie could be made of such a fleeting and trivial moment in time.

That is exactly what Matt Hulse has done - even getting your actors to audition and then play his band members - himself, his sister and his brother.

The result is a documentary which I am afraid is rather self-indulgent.

It goes into intricacies about his life back in 1979 and touches on the problems (alcoholism and depression) he has suffered in adulthood.

Hulse uses performance art as a medium to tell much of his story, confessing irritation with conventional narrative.

However, the consequence is a very staccato story whose subject matter isn't particularly interesting in the first place.

I am sure Matt Hulse is a decent person and he obviously has a warm family environment but I could say that about lots of people and I am not sure why his experiences as a 12-year-old add up to a movie.

Reasons to watch: An arty look back at 1979

Reasons to avoid: Self-indulgent

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 3.5/10

Did you know? Matt Hulse's work features in Time Out’s 1000 Films to Change Your Life (Simon Cropper 2006) and A History of Experimental Film & Video (A.L.Rees 1999) and is kept at the National Media Museum (UK), National Library of Scotland, Gallaudet University (Washington DC), The Wallace Library (Rochester, NY) and Fales Library (New York University).

The final word. Matt Hulse: "It's a rare tale, from a unique time - the energetic, earnest innocence resonates down the years. I've been wondering what motivated our mum to steer us in this direction?"

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