MIFF is off and running. This weekend, I had four film screenings, all documentaries, all at the wasteland that is Greater Union. (This place needs a renovation, STAT!)
Pool Party documents the life of the McCarren pool, the largest public pool in New York. It opened to the public in the 1930s, closed in the 1980s, remained abandoned for over twenty years before becoming a free music venue in the 2000s. It will once again re-open as a public pool next year.
The documentary cleverly intercuts archival footage of the pool during its hey day with contemporary footage of gigs that have been playing in the space after it had been abandoned for over two decades. Yo La Tengo, the Liars, Black Lips, the Hold Steady and Matt and Kim are just some of the acts featured.
Interviews with members of the parks department (Leslie Knope, anyone?!) added interesting insight into reasons why the pool was left abandoned for so long and how the plan came about to renovate the entire complex and re-open it to the public next year. (Hint: The gentrification of Greenpoint has something to do with it.)
But the most touching aspects of the documentary, I found, were the personal stories of the Greenpoint residence and their determination to see the pool returned to its former glory.
All in all, a great start to MIFF (and check out a full review of the documentary at crawdaddy.com).
3 stars!
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