DOXA 2016 review: The Act of Becoming

(USA)

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      Quietly stimulating, unexpectedly moving, impeccably crafted—what is said of the book that this documentary is about could easily be said of the film itself.

      John Williams’s 1965 novel Stoner was an impossible sell, telling the story of university professor William Stoner who lives an unexceptional life marked by disappointments. It went out of print. Yet like much great art, it took time for audiences to recognize the genius seen by others, namely the authors, editors, publishers, and translators assembled here as interviewees.

      From calling it a perfect novel to reporting states of grief, readers speak as if they’re describing a person rather than a novel. Which is apropos, as the film elucidates the profound relationship between bibliophiles and literature. Paired with Act of Becoming, “Barbarian Press” is a short spotlighting an aging couple in Mission, B.C., who have devoted their lives to running an antiquated printing press to create stunning limited-edition books. Although the future of the press remains a question mark, the film captures the beauty that can only be created by a true labour of love. 

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