Marwencol (2010)

Director:

Jeff Malmberg

Release Date:

8 October 2010 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | Biography | Fantasy

Tagline:

When his world was stolen, Mark Hogancamp made a world of his own.

Plot:

After a vicious attacks leaves him brain-damaged and broke, Mark Hogancamp seeks recovery in "Marwencol", a 1/6th scale World War II-era town he creates in his backyard.

Plot Keywords:

Coma | One Word Title

Awards:

15 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Mark Hogancamp

...

Himself

Directed by
Jeff Malmberg

Produced by
Jeff Malmberg	....	producer
Tom Putnam	....	producer
Matt Radecki	....	producer
Chris Shellen	....	producer
Kevin W. Walsh	....	producer

Original Music by
Ash Black Bufflo

Film Editing by
Jeff Malmberg

Sound Department
Pete Kneser	....	post sound mix
Pete Kneser	....	sound designer

Editorial Department
Lori Putnam	....	cut watcher
Amy Himsel Radecki	....	cut watcher
Teri Shellen	....	cut watcher
Naomi Spiro	....	cut watcher

Music Department
Annie Lin	....	music supervisor

Production Companies

• Open Face

Distributors

• Bonsai Films (2011) (Australia) (all media)
• Channel 4 (2011) (UK) (TV)
• Cinema Guild, The (2010) (USA) (all media)
• Constellation (2011) (USA) (all media) (Digital)
• Fonk Vzw (2011) (Belgium) (all media)
• Kinosmith (2010) (Canada) (all media)
• PBS (2011) (USA) (TV)
• Sveriges Television (SVT) (2011) (Sweden) (TV)

Runtime:

USA:83 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Filming Locations:

Kingston, New York, USA

Company:

Open Face

Trivia:

For the film's premiere Mark prepared a story line including the delivery by courier of a 1/6th scale press kit to the village of Marwencol.

Quotes:

Mark Hogancamp:I was like an elephant left in charge of the peanuts.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Ebert Presents: At the Movies: Episode #1.12" (2011)

An Interesting Documentary Worth a Look See

Suffering from brain damage and permanent memory loss , Mark Hogancamp spent nine days in a coma after a severe beating which almost killed him. When he awoke Mark went through therapy to try and regain all the skills that he lost. After leaving the hospital Mark began his own therapy in the form of Marwencol, a 1/6th scale World War II era town he built and is inhabited by dolls. Using some of the dolls as representations for people he knows, Mark creates numerous stories within Marwencol, some of which relate to the time he was assaulted.

When his photographs are seen by magazine publisher an art show is set up in Greenwich village, New York. Conflicted by whether or not to go ahead with the show Mark must decide if he wants to keep his therapy to himself or share it with the outside world, which he doesn't have much interaction with and doesn't feel safe in.

An interesting documentary, this film gives a view into the world of a man who has created a unique way to deal with the trauma of having nothing from a life he had prior to an assault outside a bar. The viewer gets to see the before and after sides to Mark's personality, some which seem a little creepy and others which show him as a simple man trying to get his life back. More importantly it shows how Mark didn't just become a victim who gave up because of what happened to him. Although the film tends to lag a little near the end and leaves a few questions unanswered this is worth viewing.