FILM REVIEW: The Other Fellow
22.06.22 at the Civic Theatre, Doc Edge Film Festival
The Other Fellow
Directed by Matthew Bauer
James Bond.
Even if you have never seen the films, you know the womanizing, martini-drinking, cultural icon that is: James Bond. But, have you ever wondered how Ian Fleming came up with name in the first place? Or, even more interestingly, have you ever wondered what your life would be like, if you were named “James Bond”?
The Other Fellow poses a question I have pondered on, but never thought to actually answer: What would it be like to share a name with a legendary pop-culture figure? Would people say obnoxious things at you all the time, such as call you 007? (Spoiler: yes). The idea of this film is so unique and original, that I was drawn to it almost immediately. The Other Fellow is a remarkable documentary that not only explores the experience of being called James Bond, but also manages to find a narrative thread between the stories of Bonds across the world.
Director Matthew Bauer talking with Gunnar James Bond Schäfer.
Bauer has done a terrific job of creating connections and links between, what could have been, several disparate interviews. I was actually a little worried about reviewing this film because, admittedly, I am not a James Bond fan. But, this is not a James Bond documentary. This is a documentary about hyper-masculinity, identity and the strange phenomenon of cultural icons. I love that The Other Fellow used this premise of sharing a name with James Bond to explore wider themes and social critiques. Using the name of this alpha male symbol as a springboard, Bauer creates a compelling examination of “masculinity, gender and race in the very real shadows of a movie icon”.
Furthermore, Bauer’s choice of interviewees are so well selected. He has taken great care to ensure different “Bonds” have been represented. He shows James Bond as an African American man, as a gay man, as everything that “purist” James Bond fans may have a problem with. Baur challenges the idea of Bond as a straight, white, male icon.
The editing of this documentary is also phenomenal. There is humour, but there is also poignancy. The editing never strays into bombastic territory, and creates such a clean, tight narrative. The flow between each story is never jilted and works really well - there is such a balance between the behind-the-scenes construction of documentary storytelling and the spontaneity that we love to see on screen. I initially wasn’t so sure about the reenactment scenes, but I grew to really enjoy them. By the end of the film, I felt like I would have missed a lot of the tone and storytelling if they had been omitted. This is a huge accomplishment, as reenactments can often shatter the audience's suspension of belief, and just feel downright clumsy. However, this documentary uses re-enactments in such a way that it adds a necessary element to the story. The Other Fellow has done an elegant job of its editing and structure.
I highly recommend this film. It is unique, it is funny, it is moving. It makes you consider the experiences of people that you may have never even thought about before. And I feel this is the purpose of documentaries: To open our perspectives and empathies towards different peoples, lives and experiences. The Other Fellow is as compelling as it is delightful, and it is a film that will stick with me for a long time. ■
The Other Fellow is screening in Christchurch and Wellington as part of the Doc Edge Festival. Click here to grab your tickets!
Interview with Gunnar James Bond Schäfer.