My Prairie Home

My Prairie Home (2014), is a musical documentary directed by Chelsea McMullan, with music composed by Rae Spoon. The film title was inspired by Rae’s latest album that bears the same title. Rae Spoon is an incredibly talented singer, guitarist, and song writer. According to journalist Bryen Dunn, “As a young person, Rae used music both as an escape and as a place to build a world they could live in safely. Songs about death, coming out as queer during high school, and surviving abuse are all sung by a voice that can break a heart and fill it with hope at the same time”. The documentary depicts Rae’s growth and struggles with their (her) transgender identity, Pentecostal upbringing, abusive father, and development as a musician. 

Chelsea McMullan states that “[Her] intention for the film was to create a biography of a feeling. I want the audience to really understand in a visceral way what it’s like to be Rae Spoon. Also if it exposes more people to Rae’s music, then that’s great too…Finally, my films are not overtly political but I would love if this film starts a conversation about gender. Since meeting Rae, my perspective on gender has totally shifted. It’s liberating when you sort of let the binary fall away and just be.” This film remained objective to its goal. The audience was exposed to Rae’s music, various struggles, and search for an identity. 

Love is a Hunter (My Prairie Home) Rae Spoon

Rae grew up in Calgary, Alberta in a suburban Pentecostal family. Rae’s father suffered with a mental illness, and therefore contributed towards a very abusive and unstable environment. During their adolescence Rae moved in with their grandmother and began to explore their identity. Being in a loving, nurturing, supportive, and comfortable environment allowed for Rae to make these important decisions. During this time, they asserted themselves as a lesbian and had their first openly gay relationship with a girl named Sandya. This relationship challenged both race and gender. 

In the film, Rae describes the shift from a lesbian to a transgender. Rae describes not being aware of this choice, until much later. After making this choice, Rae also made it very clear that she wanted to be referred to as “they” rather than being referred to as “he” or “she” (hence my usage above and throughout this blog). Rae also talks about being perceived in various ways while on tour. This was often based on location, demographics, and exposure to alternative sexual identities. While viewing the film, I noticed that Rae is very shy, based on their gestures and speech pattern when attempting to relate to others. However during the film, the audience  witnesses moments that display Rae’s confidence, strength, strong sense of self, perseverance, and musical talent.

Through watching this musical documentary my perspective of identity was challenged. I was able to become educated about a lifestyle and view other than that of my own.Overall, I really enjoyed viewing this film.The combination of music and information made this film very fun to watch.This documentary makes clear distinctions between aspects of identity such as gender, personality, ability, occupation, race, traditions, and culture.

Works Cited

Dunn, Bryen. “Free streaming of Rae Spoon documentary: My Prairie Home.” Digital Journal 25 Jan.2014. Web. 18 Mar. 2015 <http://www.digitaljournal.com/entertainment/free-streaming-of-rae-spoon-documentary-my-prairie-home/article/366390#ixzz3UrkVV215>.

Reflexive Documentary: Stories We Tell (Blog #5)

“But if I have learned anything from making this film, it is that we can’t all be right and we can’t all be wrong. So we must be unintentionally distorting things to varying degrees in order to feed our own version of what we need the past and history to be, and in our way, we must all be telling the truth as well.” – Sara Polley

The traditional documentary form is known as expository. Expository documentaries “fabricate a narrative of authority” (Screen Acting 3225). They are created with the goal of teaching and increasing the audiences awareness about a historical, scientific, political, social, factual, or phenomenal event. Within these types of documentaries, re-enactments, docu-dramas, archival photographs, shorts films, and original documents are used  in order to validate the information that is being presented. An example of an expository documentary is the Canadian documentary film entitled, Reel Injun (2009).  

Sarah Polley’s Stories We Tell, is and example of a reflexive documentary. Reflexive documentaries are very different from expository documentaries because the content is more subjective. These documentaries are normally constructed around the making of the film. According to Sarah Polley, “Because the film was so much about storytelling and how stories are constructed, it would have felt really false to me to leave out the fact that I was constructing this story — and that this, in itself, was very subjective”. This means that out takes, editing, cameras, actor coaching, and directing are all shown as part of the film. As a result the vulnerability of the film maker, cast, film crew, and the overall process is shown. This challenges the authenticity of those involved.

Additionally, this form exposes the film maker (Sarah Polley). An example of her “exposure” is her fear and hesitation, when she had to tell Michael Polley that he was not her biological father. This gives the audience a sense of her character. Another example is the fact that the precursor of her curiosity regarding biological father, was a family joke. Polley was often the subject of ridicule within her family, with regards to her mother’s infidelity, for many years. The idea of taking authority of this joke, by examining its validity and then owning it by presenting it to an audience, speaks volumes.

Finally, reflexive documentaries also depict the film maker’s relationship with the subjects they film. In this case, Polley’s relationship with her brothers, sisters, Dianne Polley, Michael Polley, her biological father etc. The film allowed viewers to witness a collective resolution for all of the above mentioned individuals. These people experienced self revelation, healing, and self discovery as a result of the film making process. All of those involved received emotional closure and more meaningful relationships. Polley found out who her biological father was, and was welcomed into his family. By allowing her father to narrate the film, he was able to understand her story from her point of view. All those involved shared narratives that included memorable, positive, and negative aspects of their relationship with one another.

Sarah uses various techniques that challenge the traditional documentary form and the viewer’s notion of truth. As mentioned above  re-enactments, docu-dramas, archival photographs, shorts films, and original documents are features that are typically used within expository documentaries. In the film Polley presents original documents (paternity test), archival family photos, family home videos, re-enactments of various situations, and narratives from various family members, extended family, and friends. While watching the film I had no idea that actors were being used in order to portray Diane Polley and various nostalgic family scenes, up until this was revealed closer to the end of the film. Overall the film challenges the viewers notion of truth by using elements of  both expository and reflexive documentary forms. This technique blurred the distinction between fact and fiction. Additionally truth is blurred because the audience is able to draw conclusions for themselves instead of being told what to believe. This method allows for a variety of meanings and truths.

In conclusion, expository documentaries attempt to teach and mold their viewers opinions whereas reflexive documentaries allow the audience to watch the film maker learn. As a result the audience is given the freedom to create a conclusion and impression about what is being presented for themselves. All in all, I really enjoyed watching this film, and believe that Polley’s approach towards a reflexive documentary adds both a creative and unique touch.