Film No. 53 (2020) Sept. 3rd. 10:30 PM. Cinema 4 LUNA SX Fremantle.
"The epidemic of stress, anxiety and depression that we see in the world is not being addressed by our medical system. (One of James' compatriots explains failures in mental health care our world faces on a daily basis).
This interesting film explores "the meaning of life" as seen through the eyes of one materially successful young man, James Sebastiano Jr, as he seeks an ultimate understanding of his existence. I saw it with a friend who sees life through a similar lens to me, so conversation immediately afterwards as we explored our interpretations of Chasing The Present was as invigorating as the film itself.
Film maker Mark Waters (The Salt Trail) continues with themes of wellness and finding ones self here. Chasing is a slick, well crafted social commentary with the usual talking head POV contrasts including Russel Brand as a feet on the ground observer of life's vagaries. But I assume James S Jr has stumped up a pile of cash to present his journey as a tribute to his enlightenment.
The most interesting recurring scenes throughout this feature are the five segments of conversations with his dad, James Snr. As James Jr explains his transformation from anxious being to a more chilled operator, James Snr listens and reacts, at first cynically. With every new chapter of the conversation we learn more about what is real about this father/son relationship. The techniques James Jr uses to legitimise their relationship are intriguing. Proof of his transformation perhaps!
These food for thought documentaries are to be watched when one is completely in the mood. I enjoyed this sitting for it's ideas and concepts. I was relaxed, empty of preconceptions and tensions. I may have reacted differently had I not been. As far as the craft of the film, I could not fault Waters work. I'll now seek out The Salt Trail, his other feature film of enlightenment. 9GUMS.
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