Wizard Mode

In the world of competitive pinball, Robert Gagno, a Canadian youth, is ranked among the top players, and here the camera follows him as he competes furiously in “Pinburgh”—the world's largest silverball face-off, held in Pennsylvania—to maintain or better his scores. Gagno's backstory is particularly interesting: born autistic, Robert did not even start speaking fully until the age of seven. A loner child, pinball has become his chief method of interacting with the world (although as a boy he did develop a habit of spontaneous hugging). Robert's nurturing parents have gifted him with several full-sized machines for training and fun, but they worry about him being able to live independently. Robert himself says that he refuses to be defined by autism, and there is a not-so-subtle parallel made by Canadian filmmakers Nathan Drillot and Jeff Petry between Gagno striving to maintain focus in pinball tournaments and facing day-to-day challenges of applying for jobs and maintaining relationships (the obvious connection with The Who's fictitious disabled pinball maestro/messiah Tommy is only made during the closing credits). The excitement of world championship pinball is hard to capture in narrative form, but Gagno's human-interest story effectively provides the film's spark. An uplifting portrait, this is recommended. [Note: this is also available on home video from Gravitas Ventures on DVD for $16.99 and Blu-ray for $19.99 from www.amazon.com.] Aud: C, P. (C. Cassady)