How Our Oscar Contender From Op-Docs Came to Be

Jan 11, 2019 · 11 comments
Drawingbook (NYC)
Wonderful and beautifully crafted short film. Even after 10 years you were still able to unearth a lot of love from someone who was bit of a cypher and that really comes through. Will be rooting for you, congratulations to you and NYT Doc Ops!
Lisa (Calgary)
What a beautiful tribute to a man that you knew as your father but didn't know as a person. I, too, lost my father when I relatively young (29) and have often felt how much I lost by not knowing him as a person. I hope you are proud of this work and how you represented him and his life; I will keep my fingers crossed for you on February 24!
Nonna (Seattle)
As a 65 year old grandmother who dearly loves her children and grandchildren, I found Charlie's film to be the single most exquisite tribute to a family, his father, and Charlie's extended family of colleagues I have ever seen. I wept with joy at this piece of work - a weaving of Charlie's compassionate curiosity, his brilliance, his empathy and his creative genius. Charlie's Mom and Dad did indeed "end it there". Should you read this comment, may I say your father would undoubtedly have been proud of his part in contributing to the man you became. What I know for sure is this grandmother is very, very grateful to you and the New York Times for sharing your work with us. You have made my life infinitely better by creating this work. Thank you.
EB (New Mexico)
Thank you for the opportunity to see this film.
Elle Roque (San Francisco)
The actual film is not as interesting as the story behind it.
Delicious Wolf (Tacoma)
If you enjoyed this, definitely check out "The Stories We Tell", by director Sarah Polley, the inspiration for this op-doc. Incredible movie, same technique, with a jaw-dropping shock ending. Best movie I've seen in a decade. Canadians make great movies.
Julie Zuckman’s (New England)
Maybe he didn’t invent the idea of portraits made out of inanimate objects (vegetable portraits by Arcimboldo?), but using articles belonging to a person to create a drawing of that person has the feel of pure genius. It could catch on as a “thing” we’ll see on Instagram. Looking forward to the movie!
David (Montana)
Thank Charlie for making this film, and making it available here for everyone to see. (nytimes.com/dadporno). Though I haven't tuned-in to The Oscars in about 11 years, I will this year and hope to hear your name called out in the Best Documentary Short Subect category. Your Dad would be so pleased with your genius of imagination!
Kim Berner (Yarmouth MA)
Great! Great use of objects, stop motion, sound, Editing! Well written. Well done!
Clare (Virginia)
This is lovely. My father too overcame difficult circumstances to marry well, love unconditionally and support his wife and daughters in all their dreams. I love what the director learned about how much his father lived him and how we showed that love.
Lola (Greenpoint NY)
I loved this. Congratulations. Heartfelt.