"I remember waiting to be born..." "Vision quest that was the American West." "We went to a psychic..." "I'm sure their first reaction is that she's cuckoo" "...the place is haunted..." "I think there's another dimension right here." An artist (Marta Becket) and her husband many decades ago left the hustle and bustle and culture of New York and moved to a god-forsaken town with a population of 10 in Death Valley. There, they renovated a theater--painting it is a very home-spun/folk art manner. And, once finished, she bega putting on dancing performances for practically no one. In many ways, it's highly reminiscent of the Werner Herzog film FITZCARRALDO or FIELD OF DREAMS--though AMARGOSA is a documentary of a real person--not a mythical crazy man like Klaus Kinski or Kevin Costner. Her husband eventually leaves--much of it apparently because of the lifestyle she chose. So, today she lives on with her ten cats and a sanctuary for burros eventually along with her new male companion, Tom.What you think about this documentary depends on your perspectives. If you are into New Age ideas and open to these sensibilities, then you'll more likely appreciate the film. Her talking about how she remembers her birth, ghosts, vision quests and psychics frankly made the psychology teacher in me cringe and this would definitely be the case for many people. In addition, her burro sanctuary and trying to preserve horses in the desert will most likely appeal to PETA and many other animal lovers, though with my background in environmental concerns and biology, I see the burros and horses as a blight that would destroy the native plants and animals. So on two different accounts, I tend to think quite the opposite of Marta--who is more of a "feeler" and "sensing" individual. Depending on how you feel about all this will definitely color your opinions--and I am pretty sure most people will either think she's a genius or a nut! You'll just have to guess what I think.Now despite all this, the film is interesting and Marta's life is definitely NOT dull--particularly since in recent years, people have actually begun taking trips to the desert to see her perform. There is a definite following for her and her unusual little world. While I would not be nearly as positive as most reviews, I also can't be as negative as the one review, as there is definite merit to this odd documentary. I like films about unusual people and Marta certainly is unusual! I also appreciate her love of her art and happy life--that is a rare gift. I teach psychology at an arts school and it sure would be interesting to show this to the staff--where I am pretty sure we'd get a strong positive and negative reaction to the film--probably depending on whether the teachers taught the arts classes or core curriculum! It sure would be interesting.By the way, and I am not trying to be sarcastic, but when Marta's husband was having affairs, with whom did this occur?! After all, they lived in the middle of no where and I was left wondering where he'd find partners.By the way, if you'd like to see her perform and/or stay at her hotel, it can be found at www.amargosaoperahouse.com/ . The site is in English, French and German and hotel rates are pretty reasonable as are ticket prices.

Amazing story of a one of a kind. Testimony to the the concept:that art is a need. An artist do what one does-not for any motive but for the pure need to do (the art). Martha's story is an amazing testimony to the human spirit and will. A New Yorker, ballet dancer, artist-at the latter part of her life sets out for a new horizon. Setting herself out in the desolate crossroads of a death valley isolation-and creating a variety of artistic endeavors that knows no audience at the outset. Just a need to do. This movie is a great reward. A story to be told-and appreciated by the like. To drop a name-Ray Bradbury's presence provide the necessary legitimacy to the film.

I was fortunate enough to see this at the International Film Festival at L.A. in 2000. It so happened that Marta and Tom were in the audience two seats ahead of me. It was fun to watch their reactions to the audience and the film as the film played.I've been fascinated with Death Valley every since I first visited it. The story of Marta Becket and The Amargosa Opera House which she created is equally fascinating. It is the story of Marta dealing with her personal demons, her disapproving father, her life as a up and coming New York City artist, her escape, the way she found Amargosa and what she has done with it. The film does a good job showing the complete isolation and desolation of the land for miles and miles around Death Valley Junction. How did a sophisticate from NYC end up there? It is the middle of nowhere, yet there the Amargosa Opera House flourishes thanks to this amazing woman.You owe it to yourself to see this film.

I saw this movie as part of the Slamdance mini-fest in Salt Lake City tonight. It included only two features, and I was planning on watching the first one, then leaving while this one played - after all, it's a documentary about a ballerina, and I have never even danced. I'm very glad I stayed. The beginning of it is a bit slow, and maybe a 7/10 - it's sort of a TV-style documentary. It's the type of thing you would watch a few minutes of if you were channel surfing, but you'd get bored quick. But then it gets into the discussion of the way the dancer's family relationships effected her work, and it gets into how her obsession with her art eventually ruined her relationship with her husband. There was some pointless stuff tossed into here, and a general lack of direction as they strayed off about ghosts and the history of the town, but overall a great movie, 10/10.