North by Current is the stirring, moving feature documentary by filmmaker Angelo Madsen Minax, and to mark its showing at the prestigious Sheffield Doc Fest, which began today and is on until June 13th, we had the pleasure in speaking to the man himself. We discuss subverting genre expectations and giving so much of himself and his family to screen. It’s a film not to be missed (and the interview isn’t too bad either). Watch it in its entirety here:
Synopsis
After the inconclusive death of his young niece, filmmaker Angelo Madsen Minax returns to his rural Michigan hometown, preparing to make a film about a broken criminal justice system. Instead, he pivots to excavate the depths of generational addiction, Christian fervor, and trans embodiment. Lyrically assembled images, decades of home movies, and ethereal narration form an idiosyncratic and poetic undertow that guide a viewer through lifetimes and relationships. Like the relentless Michigan seasons, the meaning of family shifts, as Madsen, his sister, and his parents strive tirelessly to accept each other. Poised to incite more internal searching than provide clear statements or easy answers, NORTH BY CURRENT dives head first into the challenges of creating identity, the agony of growing up, and the ever-fickle nuances of family.
North by Current is playing at the Sheffield Doc Fest, which takes place between the 4th and 13th of June. Info about the festival here.
