Deep Dive: Bombay Beach (2011)
Film Lens
Bombay Beach is a documentary film set in the Salton Sea, focusing on three main characters: Benny Parrish, a young boy with bipolar disorder; Cedric Thompson, a black teenager known as 'CeeJay' who seeks refuge from gang violence; and Red, an elderly former oil field worker. The film presents their stories through a blend of observational documentary techniques and choreographed dance, accompanied by music from Zach Condon and Bob Dylan.
Directed by Alma Har'el, the film reflects on themes of American manhood and the coexistence of joy and suffering in the characters' lives. It presents a dreamlike narrative that captures the essence of life in a place marked by broken dreams and thwarted opportunities, illustrating the complexities of human experience in a visually poetic manner.
Why Watch
- •Meet Benny, a boy with bipolar disorder and a vivid imagination.
- •Follow CeeJay, a teenager escaping gang violence in Los Angeles.
- •Discover Red, an elderly survivor with a love for life.
Did You Know
•Bombay Beach won 'Best Feature Documentary' at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival.
•The film was nominated for an Independent Spirit 'Truer than Fiction' Award in 2011.
•Alma Har'el's film has been taught at universities like Duke and Harvard.
•The film features music composed by Zach Condon from the band Beirut.
Perfect For
Documentary enthusiastsFans of experimental filmStudents of film studies