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FLYING: CONFESSIONS OF A FREE WOMAN
When Freedom For Women May Not Be So Free After All
The Popcorn Reel Movie Review: "Flying: Confessions Of A Free Woman"
By Omar P.L. Moore/June 21, 2007 -- "Flying" opens exclusively at Film Forum in
New York City on July 4
Documentary filmmaker Jennifer Fox, who has chronicled such
work as "An American Love Story" and "Love And Diane", stands tall on the poster
for her new epic documentary, which opens exclusively at the Film Forum in New
York City on July 4. (Poster: Zohe Films)
"I never wanted to be a girl, the way girls were supposed to be,"
narrates internationally renowned documentary filmmaker Jennifer Fox at the
start of her groundbreaking and innovative masterwork.
Triumphant, fearless, passionate and powerful, "Flying: Confessions Of A Free
Woman" is an uninhibited epic of modern day women living, loving and struggling
on their own terms and with the men in (and out of) their lives. Jennifer
Fox, 42 when she began this five-year exploration in 2002, challenges herself as
she explores her life and the consequences of the decisions and experiences that
she has lived. In doing so she shot over 1600 hours of film. And in
the process Fox emerges as a courageous and victorious figure, whether she
intended to or not. By the end of this epic six-hour journey she is
liberated in her understanding of the threads and tapestries that have defined
her life to this point and her way of living that life.
"Flying" is so profound at times that it is moving and overwhelming, and there
is an organic beauty about it that is undeniable. This film is essential
viewing.
The conversations between the women in this six-hour documentary are so rich,
vital and special. Rarely has such intimate and unvarnished dialogue
between women appeared on the big screen in the United States and it is a sheer
pleasure to witness such mature and adult conversation, the kind of refreshing
interactions most adults crave with their partners and lovers. Instead of
having to overhear conversations between 20 and 30-somethings as they prattle on
about how drunk they got last night to the point where they couldn't remember
anything, it is an exquisite joy to hear women in their 20's, 30's, 40's, '50's
and beyond expressing their innermost secrets, feelings, desires, conflicts,
crises, triumphs, wishes, hopes and fears. It is a joy to listen to this
film as much as it is to see it.
"Flying" is an ambitious vehicle that exhorts women of all races and
circumstances everywhere to stand up and be counted. There is a scene in
Part Four ("Crash And Burn") where a woman from London dresses down a man over
the phone for attempting to treat her female friend as a piece of meat -- she
speaks boldly, loudly and assertively, unafraid of whatever may be received on
the other end of the phone line. There are women who have been divorced,
and a best friend of Fox, Pat, a musician and singer living with a brain tumor
who always wanted a family. (For a long time, Fox never wanted the same.)
The women of the world live with adversity but also with courage and confidence
despite fear and anxiety staring them in the face. In a moving and
beautiful moment, Caroline, a woman with cancer living in Germany speaks
sincerely about wanting and needing love and having an abundance of it to give
back. You feel every part of her heart and yearning. It is said in
life that real men don't leave. And certainly in this epic film that is
true, and here real men do stay -- in two instances in "Flying" -- one man
begins a relationship with a single woman who is four months pregnant -- the
father-to-be abandoned her. And Caroline, the separated mother of two
grown kids who is diagnosed with ovarian cancer, rekindles a relationship with a
man that she has had a long friendship with into something deeper and more
intimate. Her yearning is answered. There are other stories about
women that "Flying" tells and it is best to let one of the best films of 2007
speak about these stories itself.
At times "Flying" is tremendously sad. When Fox, based in New York City,
reveals the deepest pains in her life you want to cry. While her life is a
cavalcade of discovery, revelation, love, sex, adventure, self-determination,
heartbreak and strength, it is not unlike experiences women who will view
"Flying" have had, and by the time hour two of the film has passed, immense
pressure has been felt by the filmmaker to conceive a child before her
biological clock stops ticking. Jennifer is as free as she's ever been yet
she is also trapped by the conventions and rigidity of a troika of women who
have irrevocably scarred and tried to define and control every inch of her life
-- her mother, aunt and grandmother.
You root for the numerous women of the world in "Flying" in every way. You
root for Jennifer to become whole within herself, to become the woman that she
wants to be on her own terms in such a complex and oppressive global society
full of powerful and powerless men, a society which dictates the boundaries of
where a woman goes and who she is. Fox also details her relationship with
her father, whom she loves deeply and has influenced her life significantly but
whom she also has mixed feelings about.
A scene from "Flying: Confessions Of A Free Woman", with women
in Cambodia discussing life. (Photo: Zohe Films)
Jennifer continues her search for what it means to be a woman in
the modern world. She travels to 17 countries including Lapland, South
Africa, France, India, Britain, Russia and Pakistan, and with other women
discusses such issues and topics as men, sex, sexual abuse, sexual expression,
abuse, birth control, relationships, health, the cauterizing of a woman's body
and the curtailing of her sexuality. Some of the women aren't nearly as
free in the other societies in which Fox travels as she herself is. It is
wholly riveting to see women uncensored on a huge world stage, in ordinary
conversations about their daily lives, unafraid to speak their truth, and in
such an unexpurgated fashion. The signature theme of "Flying" is the
innovative technique of passing the hand-held digital video camera with which
Fox films between the women she dialogues with. It furthers intimacy and
sisterhood among the women as well as the audience's affection and empathy for
the world's women, an eclectic mix of black, brown, yellow and white.
"Flying" also explores the dichotomies of being a mother and being a woman and
the split within a woman when she gives birth and begins the mothering process.
There is an abundance of joy, great joy, frustration and some isolation in this
journey -- and it is a journey of life. Very few of us -- women or men --
are open, courageous or introspective enough to explore the depth of our own
lives, let alone do it for five years on camera. Fox has cultivated a
mission to free herself from the constraints of "freedom" as she knows it -- a
freedom that may or may not be free after all. One of the best films ever
documented about women, it is the most vital work of the 21st century about the
fairer sex and the diverse and amazing daily lives that women live.
"Flying" is an vitally important film for women and perhaps an even more
important film for men. While the women express their anger and
frustration with men, there are also some things that women wish for and get in
a man -- and a few men appear on camera not to defend themselves, but to present
their own feelings about men and women and the two sexes' approach to each
other. (One man says that "sex is something that a man does to a woman,
you're not sleeping with guys, guys are sleeping with you.") In "Flying"
the filmmaker is caught between two men in her love life, one of whom, "Kye", is
married with children and lives in South Africa, the other, Patrick, who lives
in Switzerland. She loves one of the two more than the other, yet the one
she loves less shows her so much more support and patience as she criss-crosses
the world working, teaching, conversing and living her life in an uninhibited
and confident fashion. The film is broken into six one-hour episodes,
which are tailor-made for a future television serialization. When "Flying"
is released on July 4 exclusively at the Film Forum in New York City it will
show in two three-hour segments -- both of which are separate admissions.
One of the most fascinating discussions is about love, sex,
marriage and romance. A tremendously uplifting and phenomenal discussion
Jennifer has with one of the women in India is featured and it is one of the
highlights of this extraordinary film.
"Flying: Confessions Of A Free Woman" isn't solely about the filmmaker. It
is about the lives of modern women the world over and Fox's globetrotting search
to find meaning in her place in the world among them. Their experiences
inform Fox's own, both grounding and girding her to soar even higher as a
person, and blossom ever more beautifully as a woman of middle-age.
Watching the film is an emblematic and spiritual experience. The most
inspiring aspects of "Flying" are the dialogues that the women have with
themselves and each other, and the way Fox finds solace, comfort and belonging
-- especially since she had wanted to be like a boy -- and free like a man.
Ms. Fox possesses immense bravery and courage and this five-year project goes
all the way to the heart. "Flying" may be six hours long, but it is hard
to believe that any six hours in a movie theater this year or any other will be
more enthralling, exhilarating or better spent than watching this classic
exploration.
"Flying" is a gloriously fulfilling and empowering global journey of the fairer
sex. A must-see. This film will leave you soaring.
"FLYING: CONFESSIONS OF A FREE WOMAN"
Part One: "No Fear Of Flying"
Part Two: "Test Piloting"
Part Three: "Experiencing Turbulence"
Part Four: "Crash And Burn"
Part Five: "Walking Away From The Wreck"
Part Six: "Breaking The Sound Barrier"
"Flying: Confessions Of A Free Woman" will
play exclusively at Film Forum in New York City from July 4
through July 17 -- and is likely to extend its theatrical run
beyond that time. It is the most remarkable work about
women in recent memory that has been documented on film.
The film is not rated by the Motion Picture Association Of
America but contains nudity, frank dialogue about sex,
descriptions of genital mutilation that some may find
uncomfortable, and profanity. But then again, how can one
spend five years making a film and not curse or talk about sex
at least once? The film's duration is six hours, and will
be shown in two three-hour parts. The film is in Arabic
and numerous other languages, with English subtitles.
"Flying" is produced by jennifer Fox and Denmark's Claus Ladagaard and edited by
compatriot Niels Pagh Andersen.
Copyright The Popcorn Reel. PopcornReel.com.
2007. All Rights Reserved.
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