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Bonanza is playing, you might have your mind blown. The room contains a large topographic map/artistic rendering in wood and metal of the town of Bonanza. Once a thriving Wild West Colorado mining town, Bonanza is now home to a collection of oddballs and misfits who inhabit this isolated and beautiful spot. Five medium-sized screens represent the five inhabited houses (with seven residents and many dogs). This is no ordinary documentary; the subject is approached in an oblique manner and the five screens allow us to watch characters sit in the breeze while one of their neighbours pontificates. It also allows for long landscapes which take up all the screens. The way the edits play from screen to screen is inspired.
The mountain man stacks wood and goes on lonely hikes. The 'white witch' wonders why her neighbours are upset that she peed in someone's yard. The old-timers are suing in the town. Summer residents are watched with distrust. T
Eventually it becomes clear that hell really is other people. No matter how small your community, how idyllic your surroundings or how inclusive your belief system, conflict is unavoidable and peace nearly impossible to find. As Mark puts it, "Where can paradise be found? It is a fantasy of man."
Bonanza belongs to a series by the group Berlin known as Holocene. These "city portraits" includes Jerusalem, Iqaluit, Bonanza and Moscow. Iqaluit is also on at this year's Festival.
Bonanza is on January 26 - 29 at the Goldcorp Centre for the Arts, SFU Woodward’s, Studio T. Jan 26-27, 7pm, Jan 28, 7pm & 9pm, Jan 29 4pm, 7pm& 9pm. It's 65 minutes (yay for short shows!).