"Spellbound" is a serious documentary dressed up in an almost mockumentary suit. The roughly 90-minute film follows eight National Spelling Bee hopefuls from across the United States as they prepare for the big day in Washington.
Pretty straitforwardly filmed, edited and reported, "Spellbound" benefits from director Jeffrey Blitz's understanding that a little humor goes a long way, especially when it comes to a feature-length film on a pretty specialized subject.
The humor usually comes during interviews with parents of the young spellers or their neighbors. In fact, one of the first interviews is of an old ranch owner and his wife -- who is knitting throughout -- whose repartee is the sort of addled affair you'd expect to see in "Best in Show."
In another sit-down, a dog wanders into the frame and begins licking the bare leg of an interviewee. Rather than re-take the scene, the shot remains in the film, offering some light-heartedness.
There are also shots of ironic local signage -- like the local Hooter's that pays tribute to the town's regional bee winner: "Congradulations," it reads.
On the other hand, the focus on some of the parents' lack of language skills seems either funny or mean-spirited, depending on your take. It does, however, suggest that some of the kids have had some hurdles to overcome on their road to spelling mastery.
Of course, we want all of the kids to do well, but Ashley, who lives in Washington DC, where the school is evacuated for bomb threats and seems to offer few opportunities for her, is so stressed out during the nationals, that we'd love to see her take top prize and its accompanying $10,000.
Then there's April, who is convinced she won't do well. Who wouldn't want a 13-year-old pessimist to gain a new outlook that could last a lifetime?
The first half of the film tells the eight individual stories of hard work and why the kids are willing to do it: some like the sounds of words, others are in it for the competition.
The second half documents the actual National Spelling Bee of 1999 and includes some interviews with past winners, one of whom suggests winning the title doesn't do much for one's nascent love life.
The film is funny and has many touching moments. Like the scenes when Angela wins her regional event to advance to the finals, bringing tears to the eyes of her parents, who came from Mexico to get good educations for their kids.
One parent wonders if the bee isn't a form of child abuse because it inflicts so much stress on the kids. Another thinks the experience of working hard to attain a goal is an invaluable lesson in itself, regardless of how they place in the finals.
But what will really endure from this film is see the 13-year-olds that didn't win consumed by regret and "what-ifs." There's plenty of time for that later, isn't there?
"Spellbound" opens Fri., June 27 at Landmark's Oriental Theatre.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
