2019 Oscars Challenge: [13] “Minding The Gap” – Best Documentary Feature

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“MINDING THE GAP”
Bing Liu and Diane Quon

Director: Bing Liu
Producers: Bing Liu and Diane Quon
Cinematography: Bing Liu
Editors: Joshua Altman and Bing Liu
Composers: Nathan Halpern and Chris Ruggiero
Distributors: Hulu and Magnolia Pictures
Release Date: August 17, 2018
Run-time: 93 minutes

FILM SYNOPSIS: As he films his fellow skateboarders over the years, Bing Liu wonders why so many of them have experienced contentious relationships with their fathers. As he focuses on friends Zack, who is about to become a father himself, and Keire, who is grappling with his racial identity, Liu realizes that he must resolve his feelings about his own abusive childhood.

The fact that such a young person made such a poignant documentary with so many layers and a decade worth of material all connected to such strong ideas shows why this is nominated for an Academy Award. Bing Liu shows such promise for being a prolific documentarian, that you cannot be mad that this touching film is among the best of the year. But compared to a film like “Free Solo,” which feels more like a once-in-a-lifetime achievement, it’s hard to root for such a small film to win. It’s other main competitor is “RBG,” which was a sensation last year and could easily have hit enough Academy members for it to pull off a win.

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