Tarnation

Made on a computer from a cache of home movies at a cost, filmmaker Jonathan Caouette claims, of $218, the autobiographical documentary Tarnation is like a cinematic psychiatric session in which the director investigates his own dark, disturbing past--as much, one supposes, to exorcize his demons as to share them. The central theme of the film--which deals primarily with Caouette's relationship with his mother (a tortured soul whose medical treatment after an accident apparently led to full-blown schizophrenia), as well as his acknowledgement of his homosexuality--is how he came to terms with his dysfunctional family, not only his mother and the grandparents who eventually adopted him, but also his long-absent father, who finally visits Caouette in an especially memorable scene. With its fly-on-the-wall approach and experimental visual style--employing breathless montages and overlays, sound and image manipulation, whiplash editing, and quick pop culture insertions to create a mood of desperation and confusion mirroring that of its subject--Tarnation is a devastating portrait of the effects of mental illness and social dislocation, a film that is both enlightening and creepy. But it's far more than a stunt: this is an obsessive cinematic cry of anguish that courageous viewers are not likely to forget. Highly recommended. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary by director Jonathan Caouette, 16 minutes of extended home video segments, two bonus music videos with video/photo montage (6 min.), a photo gallery, and trailers. Bottom line: a fine extras package for a powerful film.] (F. Swietek)