Verbal fetishism as a docu-parody. (spoilers)
Spellbound is obviously a short documentary profiling eight spelling bee contestants from across the United States who vie for the championship title in the 1999 Scripps-Howard National Spelling Bee. In watching this movie, I couldn't help but laugh at a lot of the seemingly bizarre comments and lifestyles of the young children and their parents on screen, which to me, made real what Christopher Guest's movies (especially Best in Show) parody. John Waters, too, except that his films are plain fictional narratives rather than mockumentaries. These are also just like mirror images of the characters we laughed at in Napoleon Dynamite. We traverse around the United States, going from Texas to Florida, Pennsylvania to New Jersey, Missouri to California, Washington DC to Connecticut to give a fairly even spread of personalities and backgrounds.The brother of the contestant from Texas went on and on about how his parents immigrated from Mexico hoping for a better life. Scenes, which were interspersed with the ranch owner unfortunately, making dreadful racial remarks about Mexicans, among other things.
The family from Missouri just seemed to be fascinated with their seemingly alienated middle child, making the odd comment here and there about how the spelling bee will benefit him, showing off their prized peacock farm, and how the older brother will probably wind up in jail.
The mother of the girl from Pennsylvania was ecstatic about her daughter going all the way to compete (and ranking in the top four) in the National Bee, proudly referencing every now and again her inspirational stationary with the words 'Bee Happy' coupled with illustrations of bumble bees. There was the particularly badly timed comment the daughter makes while sitting with her parents that they remind her of Archie and Edith Bunker whereby Archie is always insulting Edith for being dumb. This, of course, followed by a shocking expression from the mother and a quick cut to something else.
There was the hyperactive kid, Harry Altman, from Jersey, who was annoying to watch. Especially as the crew were interviewing him in his bedroom and, when they asked him how long he studied, he told them in the sound of a musical robot, followed by asking whether the boom mike was edible. And all this after he said that people have told him that he talks a lot.
Neal, the kid from California, a very quiet fellow and I believe the oldest of the group (and therefore, in his last competition), seemed like one of those kids who might've enjoyed competing at one time, but was probably sorry he ever got involved once his father became his verbal trainer and thereby, increased the amount of pressure he felt in competing. Even if he did mean well, the father came off as not only very stern, but somewhat more involved with the interview than his son, showing all that his family had acquired and his philosophies on success and so forth.
There was the girl from Connecticut with matching parents--they both had almost the same hair cut and identical glasses. They appeared to be the least intrusive parents, outside of the one girl's from Texas who couldn't speak English. But they nonetheless, at least in appearance, seemed so bizarre.
There was Asheley White who was right there in Washington, DC. She seemed like a smart girl, and certainly a lot less weird (in that home-schooled way) than the other kids. Her mother raised concerns about the daughter not getting really publicized about her Spelling Bee achievements. As cash strapped as the DC Public School system is here, at least when it comes to schools outside of Northwest DC, it was nice to see a teacher devoting so much time for Ashley. I felt bad that she had always become so nervous when she came to the microphone. I imagine a lot of contestants were just like that.
And finally, there was the champ from Tampa, Florida. An amazingly bright girl who, although she seemed to have parents who might've forced more on her academically with her oddly making comments about what life is like in India compared to the United States (presumably based on things she was told by her parents). I like the three boys who she competed with at school who offered some commentary throughout her scenes in the film. They seemed to really be proud of her.
There were former Spelling Bee winners who commented on the value of winning the championship, including the first ever winner of a National Spelling Bee in the late 20s. There was an interview with the "pronouncer" of the words, and also some of the ESPN coverage, which only furthered parodies the whole thing. There was even an interview with a kid named Georgie who had almost a military philosophy of life: respect Jesus, honor thy parents, and try your hardest.
Spelling Bees are a piece of Americana, but maybe in a more demented sort of way because of the nature of their contestants and worse, their parents. Honestly, I think they all mean well, but the obsession is just so comical. I think Spellbound proves that much.
score 5/10
vertigo_14 15 February 2006
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw1292861/35631
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