"A.K.A. Don Bonus" was an extremely interesting film to watch. Through out various film classes and just watching films for fun in my own free time, I can safely say that I have not seen a documentary film quite like this one before. The way Don interacts with the camera is very unique, and this type of film is something that you can not expect in a Hollywood documentary. The vlogging of Don's life feels very unfiltered and natural, bringing the audience along for the ride.
There is a couple of scenes that really stand out to me in this film, particularly the string of scenes around the courthouse. The camera is obviously not meant to be here and Don knows this, but he brings it anyways, allowing us to hear what is going on. Through out now only this scene but the movie as a whole, I was constantly thinking about Don's motive for addressing the audience the way he does. He is very clear on his attempts to show his life, and his narration is supposed to explain what is going on. But is he talking to someone specifically? Or is he addressing an unknown audience. Maybe he didn't know who would watch this, but the only thing clear is that he just wants to document his life and whatever the result is happens.
I found Heyang Julie Kae's article titled, "Collateral Narratives: Neoliberal Citizenship, Juvenile Delinquency, and Cambodian American Refugee Youth in a.k.a. Don Bonus" to be a very informative and interesting read in relationship to the film. I mentioned in the opening paragraph to the blog the comment of this film, being for the most part unfiltered. Don wants to show his life and everything in between, whether it be the good or the bad parts. Kae gives a good example of this on page 143 of her article when she is describing the events of Don's graduation. "Don participates in the pomp and circumstance of his high school graduation. From Don receiving his diploma to the cheers of his friends, the valedictorian's speech, and the seniors throwing their graduation caps, the montage represents the normative rites of passage of this event. However, in a subsequent talking-head monologue in his bedroom, Don soberly displays and reads the diploma's declaration that he has earned his degree. He explains that no one in his family was present (143)." This is the example the Kae uses to describe the relationship between Don' achievements and other things in his life. But as the quote says, this film goes form following Don and his fancy graduation, do a one on one moment with the camera privately where he discusses how this happy day is also a sad one. Don remained very real with the camera and doesn't try to hide anything.
Overall I loved the documentary and I also think it is an important film that people should watch, it hits you in a way the other documentaries don't. Coming off of "Crazy Rich Asians," we have seen two
very different sides of Asian American culture and I am interested to see what is next.
The juxtaposition between the good and bad in Don's life is part of what made the film resonate with me, along with Don's honesty as a narrator. I liked the scene where Don openly admitted to cheating on his test on camera.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the unfiltered sense that the documentary conveys really helps us to really feel like we very intimate with Don Bonus life. I also agree that the graduation scenes really convey the dichotomy of his achievements and the expectations for him. His desires and dreams are really invisible to everyone but him. Perhaps, that is why he is so forthright with the camera.
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