Reviews from the Heights Theater Premiere!

Trampoline makes it into the Onion's A/V Club!

by Colleen Powers November 17, 2010

Feeling slighted that the Coen brothers chose Texas over Minnesota for their latest film? (Sure, True Grit is a remake of a Western that takes place in Texas, but the North Country could pass for the Wild West, right?) Regardless, we still have plenty to look forward to at the box office in the coming months. With several films shot around the state recently, 2011 promises to be a big year for Minnesota. The local première of Trampoline tonight at the Heights inspired The A.V. Club to go looking for the lowdown on other upcoming, locally made films.

Trampoline
This documentary captures a Minnesota family’s rawest and most intimate moments, from financial strife to teenage drug addiction to the unraveling of a marriage. Director Mark Wojahn’s film, which opened at San Francisco’s Docfest in October, is set to music from local outfits including Solid Gold, M.anifest, and Red Pens.

For the rest of the article, go to:

http://www.avclub.com/twincities/articles/made-in-mn-5-locally-shot-movies-to-watch-for,47773/

From CITY PAGES, by Coco Mault

Local filmmaker Mark Wojahn spent a year with the Tattenbach/Kuster/Thomason household, a Minnesota family on the brink of falling apart. Through his lens, we meet parents who don't see eye-to-eye, and witness their troubles compounded from financial stress, unruly teenagers, and drug addiction. In his documentary Trampoline, Wojahn crushes any last traces of the childhood idea of a "normal" family, and throws his audience into the reality of a group of people living in extremes.

From the film's website, "The trampoline is where the children go to play and to blow off steam. It is an apt metaphor for this modern Minnesota tale. It represents the parent's and the teenager's energy, playfulness, rebellion, and mood swings." Wojahn, a 2009 McKnight Film Fellowship award winner, isn't simply part of the reality-for-entertainment's-sake movement; his purpose in making documentaries is to "explore the realms of consciousness and humanity," as well as to build and connect communities. Trampoline also includes a locally-made soundtrack with songs by Red Pens, Aby Wolf, Mystery Palace, Solid Gold, and M.ANIFEST.

The Midwest/Minnesota premier of Trampoline is this Wednesday, November 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Heights Theatre, located at 3951 Central Avenue Northeast in Columbia Heights. In addition, there will be a Q&A after the movie with the director, cast, and crew.

http://blogs.citypages.com/dressingroom/2010/11/trampoline_expo.php

 Visit the film's webpage to read more about the Tattenbach/Kuster/Thomason family.

Reviews from San Francisco!

"Trampoline is what you imagine it would have been like if they filmed the Replacements when it all began. A Minneapolis youth culture classic. I was pulling for these kids."

Paul, San Francisco.

"Just wanted to say I think Trampoline is absolutely brilliant and that the time and energy you dedicated to the project most certainly has a tangible presence in the film. I was at the Roxie last night at the 7:15 showing (I was the one in the back who ask if you'd had any doubts while making the film).

 A big thumbs up to you and Trampoline. What a story!

Good luck in your endeavors"

-Shelley
Photographer

7X7: Indie Theater Roundup: 7 Movies to See at Docfest

http://www.7x7.com/arts/indie-theater-roundup-7-movies-see-docfest-0

"An intimate portrait of a wounded Minnesota family being torn apart by the stress of their daily lives, Mark Wojahn’s searing sophomore feature makes its world premiere at Docfest. The world Wojahn (What America Needs) depicts is an out-of-control roller coaster of teen parties, third-degree burns, unemployment, drugs and marital strife, but Osla, the resilient matriarch, heroically attempts to slam on the brakes."

from SF360 http://www.sf360.org/?pageid=13102

"To be sure, Mark Wojahn's no-holds-barred portrait of an American family falling apart at the seams is an endurance test for all involved, the audience included. Osla and Nathaniel's 12-year marriage is on the rocks; his elementary schoolteacher salary, not to mention his patience, have been stretched thin supporting his wife and their four teenage children, all of whom seem to have substance abuse or psychological issues, or some unholy combination of both. Remarkably, Trampoline avoids reality TV miesrablism despite the rough circumstances it depicts; clearly, there is love amidst the trips to the emergency room and public freak-outs." 

from Jason goes to the movies, http://jasonwatchesmovies.blogspot.com/2010/10/jason-goes-to-docfest-day-10.html

" a shockingly intimate look at a family falling apart over the course of the year. Osla and Nathaniel are the parents--or rather Osla is the mother and Nathaniel is the stepfather. And Nathaniel is apparently diagnosed as psychotic, although I don't see it. The kids are afreakin' mess--mostly drug use but also other forms of teenage rebellion (make that super-rebellion). Family friend Mark Wojahn filmed it all. And it looks like a home movie, and obviously jumps around in time (particularly Nathaniel's haircut is a giveaway), but it's still pretty compelling. They're interesting people, and the film gets into their lives pretty deeply." 

Reviews from MSPIFF!

Capsule review by Rob Nelson and the Minneapolis Star Tribune & Vita.mn

Trampoline

★★★ 1/2   7 p.m. Mon. • Minnesota-made

Nearly 40 years after PBS burst into the Loud household, inaugurating reality TV with "An American Family," Twin Cities documentarian Mark Wojahn trains his camera on another compellingly eccentric clan. Acutely edited and at times almost shockingly intimate, "Trampoline" follows a year in the lives of a married Minneapolis couple and their four disturbingly unleashed teenagers. As the couple's bond begins to rupture, owing to some unknowable combination of mental illness and ordinary boredom (give or take the camera's presence), Wojahn doesn't disguise his friendly relationship to the people he's filming. In turn, the family members' gift to the audience is in laying themselves completely bare. Don't be surprised if some or all of them show up at the screening to take a bow. (99 min.)R.N

http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/movies/91832934.html?page=5&c=y

http://www.vita.mn/story.php?id=90872124

from the audience,

"I was absolutely blown away!  I can't tell you how many emotions that film brought out in me and the people around me.  I went into the film loving documentaries and came out knowing that they are more powerful than I had previously thought.  That family was so interesting, I couldn't help but feel for them in all the situations they went thru.  I have to admit I was so wrapped up in their lives by the end that I was very much affected by their breakup.  The times you filmed them having fun seemed so perfect and put me on such a high that it was a long fall downward every time I watched the parents talking about their marital problems.  I, as a viewer, went up every time you showed those dinner scenes which always seemed to be fun and a stage for one of the kids to have fun and perform.  I was way down every time you showed the parents on the couch not talking.  What an amazing film, such an amazing story and family, I truly loved your film and know it will affect a lot of people." D. Harris

"wow, i appreciate your patience love vision it took to stick with this family and 'witness' their 'magic', their 'tragedy', their 'ordinariness'..................i appreciate their willingness to open themselves to being peered poked pondered by 'millions of strangers'....................i appreciate film editors who can wade through hours of 'video' and create a compelling story for strangers to enjoy learn grow from.................. wow........... .............good luck mark with having this work shown at other festivals." M.Engels