SFF NOTES: In Jackson Heights (2015, Dir. Frederick Wiseman)

Apparently, the work of long-form documentarian Frederick Wiseman is best devoured in the morning time. I have seen both of his most recent films, National Gallery and At Berkeley, both in the morning and both at festivals and I can attest that the number of walk-outs were minimal compared to my 6:15pm session of his latest, In Jackson Heights, which had shed about 80% of its almost sold out audience by the time it reached the end of its third and final hour.

More's the pity because Wiseman's work is best experienced through absorption and clock-watching undoubtably hampers that. Granted, In Jackson Heights' ramble through the threatened diversity of the New York suburb doesn't have the (relative) tightness of the more structured socio-cultural ecosystems that have formed the subjects of the aforementioned films but that, in a way, is this film's culture-asserting delight. It is a portrait of a community that shows our capacity to navigate our differences, to co-exist without necessarily congealing. And it pointedly makes sure that we understand that this doesn't happen without effort.

Jackson Heights and its predominantly latino population proves to be a sprawling case study of many of the United States' current flash points. Wiseman bookends his film with the Queens Pride parade, which was instigated in 1993 following the murder of Julio Rivera, an LGBTQ community member. The parade and other queer and trans* community discussions are just one example of the identity overlap that makes In Jackson Heights so rich. Beyond the LGBTQ threads, there is a strong social justice theme running through Wiseman's film and community organisation around social issues such as immigration and gentrification provide the unifying themes within the community.

Wiseman gives a lot of air to these discussions, especially the "Business Improvement District" proposal, which receives a very long explanation of what the economic improvement really means for grassroots business community. In any other instance such a scene would probably be chastised as long-winded exposition but here the effect is forgivingly insightful. Here, it adds to the tentative cohesion of the film, and the community.

It is one of the rare moments in In Jackson Heights that Wiseman finds someone who can articulate this shared separateness and how it is celebrated in the community. The Pride march provides another, as does the crack "Cop Watch" crew shadowing the police as they bear down on crowds celebrating Columbia's victory in a World Cup match.

Those with the pre-requisite patience will be able to take all this richness in, and more. Wiseman's film is a generous guide to a generous community, littered with important teaching moments, and soul-building small achievements that make that community great.

I can think of certain citizens of the United States (with bad hair and bad morals) who should be lining up for this one...

★★★☆

Trailer:

In Jackson Heights screened as part of the Sydney Film Festival 2016.

You can check out other films from the festival here.