Great movies introduce you to people you’d probably never cross in your daily life; Someone like, say, THOR. And great movies take you to places you’ve never been before; Someplace like, say, Rio.
And now comes a great movie that also achieves those feats, only it introduces you to ventriloquists and it takes you all the way to…Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky? Um. Yes.
“Dumbstruck” is the surprisingly poignant documentary by director Mark Goffman and his wife, Lindsay. At first you’re afraid you’re about to see the Goffmans pick on the easiest of showbiz targets, perhaps even lower esteemed than mimes: Ventriloquists. But within minutes, the handful of “Vents,” as they’re affectionately called, steal your heart. We meet them at the national convention and then spend the following months learning more about each of the aspiring entertainers. Some, like 13 year old Dylan Burdette, are just beginning and still very rough around the edges—others, like Dan Horn, are revered veterans who are clearly the rock stars of the convention.
“When we first went to Kentucky, we weren’t sure what to expect,” says Goffman from the road, on his mobile phone. “We never intended to make fun of anyone and, in fact, we made friendships and found this to be, as a group, the warmest, most genuine and generous people you could ever meet.”
The Goffmans earned the trust of their subjects, some of whom are outcasts in the “real” world, but find comfort within their community of fellow outsiders. “One woman we met, Wilma Swartz, was completely broke and in danger of losing her home,” Goffman recounted. “She wrote letters and reached out, really turning to the only people who would understand what she was trying to do with her life, and they were there for her.”
Among the subjects they followed (which you’ll see in a moment on the theatrical trailer) was Terry Fator, a respected journeyman, but also still struggling after 22 years. The filmmakers were there to see his meteoric rise. “When we started out, we were following people at different stages in their career. Some were trying really hard to get into the Cruise Ship circuit, which, outside of Vegas, is about the highest level you can achieve, in terms of semi-stable employment. But we actually got to watch Terry get the job of his dreams; his own Las Vegas show.”
As a movie goer, you’ll find yourself rooting for these kind-hearted, though slightly “eccentric” people. As a critic, I’m rooting for this independent film to make it to as many theatres as possible. Please follow this link to find the cities in which “Dumbstruck” is currently playing http://www.dumbstruckthemovie.com/. And do watch the trailer.
In the Washington DC area, you can see "Dumbstruck" at : http://www.landmarktheatres.com/market/washingtondc/washingtondc_frameset.htm
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