Review: The Art Star and the Sudanese Twins
Indie Documentary About Attempted Adoption in Sudan a Dramatic Mess
Vanessa Beecroft, the Italian-born contemporary artist known for her usually nude performance art pieces featuring dozens of nude women, is the focus of this documentary piece, as she attempts despite her best efforts, to adopt two infant children whose father can no longer support them in their native Sudan.
The Art Star and the Sudanese Twins Overview
While establishing a non-linear timeline describing Beecroft's travels from the United States, to Sudan and also Italy, the determined artist tirelessly works out whatever paperwork she believes may be useful in achieving what she calls a fateful destiny: the compassionate adoption of two very young Sudanese children named Madit and Mongor, whose mother died in childbirth, and whose father simply cannot act adequately in providing for their care.
Realizing that the task of legally adopting these babies to bring to the United States is daunting at best, Beecroft nevertheless reaches out to all available local resources (including the natural father's extended family), as she tries to maintain her sanity and positive attitude, juggling this plan without neglecting her artistic career in the process.
Beecroft encounters many hurdles during her ordeal, including some resistance from the local authorities, Sudanese government officials who point out there isn't a formal legal process of adoption in their country, as well as a well-meaning but cautious U.S. immigration lawyer, who repeatedly quizzes the artist about her preparedness in the near impossible task of successfully bringing these children home. In response, the artist lies through her teeth in confirming her American husband's consent.
Though many egos are bruised during this lengthy tale spanning 16 months, Beecroft seems unphased by adversity, adopting a peculiar attitude towards achieving her goal, to the dismay of many close to her. Amongst those aghast at her behaviour, is her patient but realistic husband, anthropologist Greg Durkin. While he is morally supportive of his wife in any project she engages in as an artist, the strain of her inability to grasp the logistical nightmare of the adoption quest is clearly visible on camera, and the toll this takes on their marriage is candidly obvious.
As the documentary reaches its final destination, viewers can rationalize the aftermath of her lofty mission, as they witness the breakdown of Beecroft's relationships, in pursuit of something she never thought through in the first place.
Art Star and the Sudanese Twins Overall Analysis
Though director Brettkelly has a keen eye for the important elements of her environment, she can never manage to raise enough evidence to support the unrealistic goal her subject sets for herself. Whether the original intent of this piece was to garner sympathy for Beecroft, or rather to highlight her artistic side while quietly commenting on the latest craze of celebrity adoption, is unclear.
If anything, Brettkelly shamelessly displays Beecroft as an emotionally unbalanced artist, who would rather have her way regardless of established rules and laws, than accepting the consequences of her actions and the inferred personal implications therein.
The audience witnesses many of her egotistical interactions with officials, businessmen, art professionals, and her own staff. What they are likelier to see is nothing more than a tiresome wreck, who isn't even looking after her own children (utilizing a nanny to look after them while she ventures out) yet is ready to burn bridges to adopt two more children.
Noble as this quest may be, viewers find themselves with plenty of ammunition to rally in support against Beecroft, as they see her manipulating truths, simply for the sole purpose of getting what she wants. To find out later that her husband may be looking to divorce her after this ordeal, shouldn't come as a shock in the least.
As much as Brettkelly's footage of Beecroft's numerous, highly successful art pieces fills the void between scenes of her tireless work trying to circumvent the immigration system, there is simply no reason for her art to be included in this movie. If anything, were it so, the movie should have simply been called The Art Star.
As it were, while the filmmaker may be hoping to draw attention to the violence and despair in the Darfur region of Sudan, her intended goal gets easily overshadowed by the irritating bravado of her celebrity subject.
The Art Star and the Sudanese Twins is already playing in Toronto and Vancouver, and opens at the Bytowne in Ottawa April 3rd, and is a Kinosmith film.
4 out of 10 for having produced a concept originally designed to garner interest in an important issue, but ending up with an exposé on the many character flaws of an already controversial artist.
The Art Star and the Sudanese Twins Poster
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