Category Archives: Documentary

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, October 15: NO LIMITS

Alison Ellwood’s recounting of danger in the depths of competitive free-diving made its world premiere at Tribeca. After screening as part of ESPN’s new Nine for IX this Summer, it is being released in a boxed set with the remainder of the films in the female athlete focused series.

I previously included the doc in my Tribeca coverage here.

Coming to DVD and VOD today, Tuesday, October 15: STRONGMAN

Zachary Levy’s portrait of the “Strongest Man in the World*” (*at bending steel and metal) debuted at Slamdance in 2009, winning the best documentary award. It went on to screen at SXSW, Hot Docs, Maryland, Milwaukee, and the Coney Island Film Festival. In addition to its DVD release, The Orchard now makes the doc available on iTunes, Amazon, and VUDU.

Stanley Pleskun, better known (in his own mind at least) as Stanless Steel, is really good at bending steel. While he hasn’t figured out a way to turn this unusual skill into either a financially self-sustaining enterprise or widespread celebrity, he keeps at it, performing various stunts at small parties, elementary schools, or in parking lot exhibitions, with a rare novelty television appearance thrown in for good measure. At his side is Barbara, his astonishingly supportive girlfriend, who even allows herself to be roped into serving as his half-hearted announcer, despite clearly having no affinity for the role. Filming over multiple years, Levy is able to establish something of an invisible, fly-on-the-wall presence, capturing Stanley in verité moments of relative triumph – proudly bending a penny – and tribulation – an uncomfortable drunken fight with his brother over a stunt. While it never feels exploitative – Levy’s camera seems to show real affection for these eccentric characters – there’s something still very sad about the proceedings. It feels like Stanley needs a reality check, rather than be indulged in his seemingly hopeless efforts, especially for the too-long running time allotted here. Still, like the similarly-themed, more recent BENDING STEEL, critics and audiences have found much to celebrate in this underdog story, and there is something eminently watchable about Stanley and Barbara, even if it’s sometimes uncomfortable to do so.