A years-long Albanian blood feud. An imprisoned media mogul battles the U.S. justice
system. BP oil versus the Gulf.
Neglected tomato farmers in Florida. What's the common element among these
stories? Debt. Jennifer Baichwal's
Payback follows a number of stories
that all deal with some form "debt".
Not just dealing with monetary circumstances, the documentary also
explores debts of honor, society, and even the environment. Through beautiful cinematography and poignant
conversations, we see a cluttered but thoughtful examination of not just who or
what we owe, but why.
An entire documentary could have been made just dealing with
the BP oil spill situation.
Information you may have not known about the clean-up will floor you
while the striking images of the fires and the aftermath will take your breath
away. Just when the emotions
really start to spark, we are taken away to another story that is equally
interesting but jarring, as we have to reinvest every time with something
different. Any one of these stories on its own would be worthy of a more
detailed and thorough examination, but unfortunately we're never given the
level of attention needed to really invest. These stories need an investment from the audience, one that
propels the theme and its impact.
Although the film structure may frustrate you, the gorgeous
photography will move you. Each
story is given some amount of visual flourish. Whether it's the sweeping aerial shots of the oil spill, the
intimate close ups of the Albanian families, or the rows of tomato workers, you
will want to know more. Payback is a
unique tale told in an unconventional way, and for that it must be
applauded. With multiple stories
and only 86 minutes, some information gets washed away, and we're left with
underdeveloped subjects that could have used more time. The DVD comes with a few extra features
such as deleted scenes with Jane Goodall and a Q & A with the
director. They certainly add to
the experience, but it may not be enough to justify a buy.
