I seem to be watching quite a few documentaries at the moment. That's not a bad thing, but it does then skew my recommended watching in Netflix to other documentaries.
This month I was suggested Being Ginger. A documentary created by Scott P. Harris and looks on the surface as a love story of what ladies actually would date a ginger man.
The set-up seem a little shallow at first as Scott tries to find the courage to talk to a random women under the guise of making a documentary. It develops quickly and the tone changes into a look into one mans life and self belief.
It takes you nicely on his journey and looks at how people get to the situation they are in. It looks at how our past shapes us even if we don't realise it later in life. Experiences that hurt us tend to be pushed down despite being major factors in how they shape us. It's only reflection can you see really how much they may have influenced you decisions.
Scott is adamant about not dating a ginger person, and interviews a few couples who are both red heads, but it is not until the 3rd act of the documentary where he travels to a major red head festival in Holland that he starts to question his own rules. The rules are there because of his own skewed notions and thoughts rather than that of the outside world.
He is helped on this journey by his friends who are also students at Edinburgh university. It is quite interesting at times to see their take on his history and what he should do trying to find love.
This is a fun little documentary that is touching, heart-warming and while having a serious reflection on one mans experiences serves to show that confidence comes from within and is driven by how much you want to expand your own self.
I really enjoyed the journey that Scott takes the viewer on and found it interesting to see how he screened multiple versions of the film from very short to where it finally ends up. It is interesting to watch the film develop within itself as well as watching Scotts journey.
It was the sort of documentary that inspires others. I wanted to grab a camera and start making a documentary too. The real question here is why not. It does not have any major research to start with and the documentaries evolution shows how you can build on what is a short film to a full blown documentary.
I would recommend this everyone, and if you don't have Netflix you can still watch it online for just a few pounds.
This has spawned another documentary (sort of sequel) to it called An American Ginger in Paris which was a Kickstarter project for Scott once Being Ginger became bigger. Through the first film he meets people that highlight France as being a ginger loving community, I expect this will follow him on the journey to find love and why France is that particular place to do it.
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