A Different Drummer: Celebrating Eccentrics @ Hot Docs 2015

30 April 2015 / by Jacob Dubé
Featured Image for A Different Drummer: Celebrating Eccentrics @ Hot Docs 2015 courtesy of A Different Drummer: Celebrating Eccentrics
Film
A Different Drummer: Celebrating Eccentrics @ Hot Docs 2015

Every once in a while, among the monochrome suits walking to their next meeting while keeping to themselves, an eccentric will appear.

Every once in a while, among the monochrome suits walking to their next meeting while keeping to themselves, an eccentric will appear. They could be doing anything from riding their unicycle to taking their pet iguana on a walk, but it is refreshing to know they are among us. This is the group of people that Oscar-winning documentarian John Zaritsky attempts to present in his film A Different Drummer: Celebrating Eccentrics.

 

The film follows the stories of seven eccentrics across the U.S.A and Canada; a man who hasn’t used money in 12 years, a woman with a closet that looks more like the backroom of a costume emporium, the owner of a magical healing duck, and so on.

 

Each person has about 10-15 minutes to showcase their eccentricity and give us a reason to care, then the film abruptly moves on to the next one. This method of presentation makes it hard to develop any real connection with the subjects, and their stories just go out the other ear.

 

At the times when the film does delve deeper into their lives, like when Laura-Kay Prophet’s homelessness is addressed, the delivery feels forced and confusing, as it was quickly mentioned and just as quickly forgotten between scenes of ducks.

 

The film does raise some interesting questions on what it takes to be an eccentric, and what being “normal” really means, but it lacks the cohesion that would make any real point to the film apparent. Each person brings their own issues and themes and the film ends up trying to take on way more than it can handle.

 

Although the characters themselves often present interesting and humorous subject matter, the shoddy editing and rushed feel of the film turns what could have been an insight on social pressures and normalcy into a directionless parade of characters.