New to VOD this week: FORCED PERSPECTIVE
Nick Cavalier’s portrait of artist Derek Hess made its debut at the Cleveland International Film Festival last year. Screenings followed at Beverly Hills and the Atlanta Doc fests, among others. FilmBuff now releases the film on VOD.
While not a household name, the Cleveland-based Hess has cultivated a cult following while also being recognized by the more mainstream art world and media outlets. Cavalier traces the artist’s background and career, spotlighting the eye-catching promotional music poster art that established him in the 1990s before he crossed over into fine art, and which laid the groundwork for Hess’ forays into music and art festivals and a popular line of clothing merchandise featuring his designs. The well-shot film also reveals the impact bipolar disorder and alcoholism has had on Hess’ life and work in the past, bringing a darker element to the proceedings that helps contextualize and inform his artwork, and allows Cavalier to expand his project from what’s otherwise a respectful, if somewhat insular, tribute.
what (not) to doc 