Reviews from MSPIFF Sneak Preview

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