Lift

Confined in a small space with no where to hide your true self, Marc Isaacs captures on film what it is to be human and how over a short period of time, you can really get to know someone.

Marc Isaacs, Lift, is a compelling documentary following the tedious lives of residents in a block of council flats in London. Isaac, along with his camera, patiently wait in a lift of the block capturing the residents reactions and learning more about them. The film was quite enjoyable though personally, a documentary I would never normally chose to watch. The film moved at a gentle pace, introducing the residents and their 'outerselves' - to begin with, complete strangers. Yet by the end of the film, we see their innerselves; a kind elderly lady who just wants company, a tired man with terrible life experiences that wouldn't be wished upon anyone and a man who shows kindness through food. As time goes by they begin to open up to Isaac and you can really paint a picture of the type of person they are. A thought provoking film about how a person feels and interacts with those around them, whether they have a choice or not.

I believe this documentary was in the style of reflective and interactive. Some of the documentary is filmed with the individuals responding to questions asked of them. While the film as a whole is experimental. Isaac is interested as much in the process of making the film. This is emphasised with the repeated shots of his reflection in the lift holding the camera. He is showing how reality can be constructed, as the actual content.

I think the awkwardness of the filmmaker and location helps the narrative form naturally. However it does force the conversations and the feel of the film. If the location was a local park, there would be a completely different atmosphere throughout. The lift creates the illusion of being boxed away from the outside, you can't hide who you are or how you are feeling. The questions Isaac asks: "what did you dream last night?", "have you ever been in love?", "do you have religion in your life?", are anything but normal everyday questions. He provokes a real answer from these people, where they have to think deeply about themselves and their life experiences.