Mark Hogancamp suffers a vicious beating from five men outside a bar. For nine days he is in a coma and he has no memories of his former life. As part of his therapy to help recover from brain damage, he builds a 1/6th scale Belgian World War 2 era town that he creates in his backyard. The name of the town is Marwncol and he uses dolls representing his friends and family. Plus, he takes life-like photographs detailing relationships and dramas. He makes up these situations as activities in the town. A magazine publication shows his pictures of his work. Then, New York gallery sets up an art show to feature his work. Mark is very nervous about going to the city and showing his "private" creation. Suddenly, Mark’s homemade therapy is deemed to be “art!” This forces him to choose between the safety of his fantasy life or the real world that he has avoided??
This documentary has won quite a few awards and is very different from other films of this type that I've seen. It was a senseless beating, the world he has built is amazing and he also relies on it for the feeling of safety because he fears a future attack. He has also benefited physically from the building process. He left behind his insatiable desire for alcohol which contributed to being in the wrong place a the wrong time!! Somehow Mark has survived against all odds!! 3 1/2* (I liked this movie)
83 min, Doc directed by Jeff Maimberg, with Mark and Edda Hogancamp, Emmanuel Nneji, Tom Neubauer, Julie Swarthout, Janet and Mark Wikane, Bert, Lisa Bruck, Colleen Vargo, David Naugle, Ruthie Hotaling, Tod Lippy.
Note: Imdb 7.6 out of 10 with 3,317 reviews, 98% critic and 89% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.
Special Note: Filmed in Kingston and Manhattan, New York. Mark plays in the town and the photographing helps him to recover his hand-eye coordination. It also helps him deal with the psychic wounds of the attack. For the premiere of this film, Mark prepared a story line including the delivery by courier of a 1/6th scale press kit of the village of Marwencol. The names comes from the real people, Mark, Wendy and Colleen.
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