Cinema Verite and Documentary Film
“The War Room” is a behind-the-scenes look at the politics of then Arkansas governor Bill Clinton. It followed everything from the primaries to the presidential campaign. Not seen by the darting eye, the film focuses on the campaign managers and politcal strategists that got “Bubba” Clinton elected to the presidency handily. The main focus is on the “Rajin’ Cajun” James Carville, and “Little Boy Wonder” George Stephanopoulos. Unlike more recent “politivcal” documentaries such as Farenheit 911 by Michael Moore, the husband and wife directing team was given unprecedented access to the people behind the political scenes, including the 1992 Democratic National Convention. This was access not seen since Drew’s “Crisis” documentary about Robert F. Kennedy. Both of these films are cinema verite at it’s best.
My family has grown up on the news. At 6:00 p.m. my mom, brother and I would gather around the dinner table to watch the local news, and then ABC World News Tonight. We watched political debates and kept well-informed-as my mother felt this was important. To this day, I still have that same routine. In 1992 I was eleven years old-and even then I could probably tell you who James Carvill and George Stephanoupoulos were-or at least who I thought they were.
“The War Room changed my mind on both of these political genius’. In fact, that is what cinema veritae does-in its “natural” way-being unobtrusive, one can get different looks at people, both positive and negative. For example, Stephanoupoulos on the 6:30 news may seem like an overconfident, attratictive political whiz kid-or he could be seen as a young political slimeball, give too much power too young.
But with cinema veritae you see Stephanoupoulos in his natural element-drinking coffee and reading the morning papers. One gets the sense thae he feels his candidate can change the nation and the world. He is earnest and sincere, not stiff and political ike we often would see him on the news.
James Carville on the other hand is known for being brash and unabrasive. He and his wife, Republican strategist Mary Matlin are known for their sparring matches on politics. On television, this is what we see about James Carville, but with cinema veritae and “The War Room” this is what we now know: Carville has a heart and deep appreciation of the workers surrounding him. Scenes where he is receiving priase, he reverts the praise back to his staff with tears in his eyes. That’s certainly not being brash-that’s being human. That’s not being a tough, political, superhero, that’s being a person.
Like Nanoon of the North, but not nearly as scripted, “The War Room” never rushes the camera away from moments. The directors allow for things to happen naturally. One of the opening scenes with Carville, Stephanopoulos and Cling reading the newspapers and drinking coffee is so intimate. This makes the documentary far more likeable that Ferenheit 911 where so many pieces were left on the editing room floor. By watching this movie the viewer has the opportunity to like politicians that readily criticize them, as we often do.
Out of all the concepts we have learned thus far in this class, cinema verite is both the most interesting and most prevalent of the modern documentary. I can think of not a better example of this style of film. The viewer is able to listen to words said, appreciate the silence between these words and enjoy the differences between personalities like Carville and Stephanopoulos.
With this “fly on the wall” technique, we see in just 90 minutes what was 35 hours of footage and 17 days of shooting. The ability for Pennebaker and Hegedus to bring in the lull moments to the dramatic changes in disposition bring forth a type of intrigue for the viewer. This is why the film has been acclaimed and will be a staple for those wishing to learn the cinema verite style.
Key Specs about “The War Room”
Gross
$901,668 (USA)
Tagline
They Changed The Way Campaigns Are Won.
Awards and Nominations
Oscar, Best Documentary (Nominated)
NBR Award (National Board of Review) Won
Backroom politics has now been exposed-a high stakes game, but no mystery.”
– John A. Nesbit, TOXICUNIVERSE.COM
A documentary about Clinton and his cohorts that isn’t remotely as interesting as it should have been. Where were the cameras when Monica and cigars were in the room?”
– Fred Hong Joo Jung, KOREA TIMES
“A top documentary; behind the scenes at how a political campaign is run.”
– Bob Bloom, JOURNAL AND COURIER (LAFAYETTE, IN
“An invaluable record of Bill Clinton’s unlikely rise to the White House.”
– Rob Vaux, FLIPSIDE MOVIE EMPORIUM
