Marwencol is an excellent documentary which tells the story of Mark Hogancamp, who was assaulted by five men outside of a bar and left severely brain damaged after nine days in a coma. He had no memory of his former life. As a form of therapy, Mark slowly builds a 1/6 scale Belgian World War II era town he names after real people; Mark, Wendy and Colleen. He uses dolls to represent himself and his friends and gives them story lines. He eventually photographs his work and after publication in a magazine, his work is discovered by a New York art gallery; this is a simply amazing story. Mark has somehow survived against all odds and Marwencol will almost restore your faith in humanity.

Marwencol is a documentary about Mark Hogancamp, who is a man in his late 30's and one night at a bar he was ganged up on and brutally beaten by a group of people. Mark survived, but was brain damaged and had to learn his motor skills, speech and everything else that he once knew, all over again. Instead of going to expensive therapy sessions, or psychiatry to get over the incident, Mark creates his own therapy and uses his creative outlet by building a model town circa World War 2 in his backyard with old scrap pieces and dolls and other material he buys at the local hobby shop. The film explores Mark's past and what he can remember about it before the accident and also shows how much this miniature town means to him and that this is probably the healthiest and best way for him to cope and get over the traumatic events that he experienced. I really enjoy when a documentary filmmaker does a film about everyday issues such as politics, the environment, or social causes that need light to be shed upon them to make a difference in the world. I also really appreciate when a documentary filmmaker makes a film like Marwencol, and instead of being really high tech, or using a lot of jargonised language and statistics, it instead invites us into the world of it's subject and in a sense, lets us the viewer get up close and personal with them. Marwencol, does not look like it was an expensive film to make and it does not have the fancy camera tricks, or stunts as say a Michael Moore documentary, but it is just as fascinating and affective as any other documentary on the market. The thing about this film is how we really start to like and care about Mark, as an individual and we also really respect and are fascinated by his World War 2 model town. Seeing him taking pictures of it, building onto it and all the precise and accurate measures he goes to, to make it all perfect is fascinating to watch and also at the same time warms our hearts because we see how much this means to him and how important it is for his creative outlet as well as his way of letting go of all his anger and fears that were brought on because of the attack. We see Mark, as he tries to interact with others and naturally he is very cautious and a little afraid to do so now for obvious reasons, but the way he connects with these people and incorporates them into his model village is really special. He may have some trouble interacting with the real version of the doll's inspirations, but when he talks to the dolls resembled after his friends and co-workers, he has a bond with them and he respects them and even in a way loves them in the same way as human beings we would love each other. The artistic aspect of Mark's town is also here. Everything is so detailed and well done that this film is interesting to look at in an artistic way as well. Also to look at Mark's imagination and how he sets up the characters in the town and involves them in story lines and plots that he will remember for weeks, or months after they happen, is nothing short of phenomenal. In a sense we do feel bad for Mark because of the accident and what he had to go through, but in another way we also see how the accident may have saved his life from the destructive behaviour and alcohol dependency he was so relying on before and through this village he has created, it has helped him in so many ways to reach out in a sense to others and himself. It was almost like he was given a second chance at life and I think he feels that way himself and he is going to make the most of it. Marwencol is so fascinating because we like Mark, care and want the best for him as do we for his town as well. Seeing him interact with it and how by doing this he is really helping himself and at the same time opening up a whole new world of opportunities for him. In a sense this is a feel good film because we see the progress that he is making and it would be interesting to see a follow up film several years down the road to further see what he is up to because I know he is going to get better and stronger with time and his art is going to be more and more appreciated. This film works because it is so human and believable and really concerns you and makes you want to cheer for what you have just seen.

Marwencol is an unusual documentary about a real-life character, Mark Hogencamp, a resident of Kingston, New York. Hogancamp used to be married and had a hobby as a talented illustrator (although the subject matter of his illustrations, often aggressive and sexually tinged, reflected an angry temperament, undoubtedly exacerbated by alcoholism). Everything changed in 2000 when Hogancamp was assaulted by five low-lifes at a Kingston bar and sustained significant brain damage. He was in a coma for nine days and hospitalized for 40 days, only gradually recovering physically from the attack. As a result of the attack, Hogancamp lost almost all his memories of his former life. At the same time, he completely lost his desire for alcohol and became a much more docile, sensitive person, in contrast to the angry alcoholic of his pre-attack days.Unable to afford any therapy, Hogancamp created a miniature town called Marwencol inhabited by dolls dressed up as World War II action figures (Marwencol refers to himself and two important women in his life, Wendy and Colleen). One of the dolls is a stand-in for Hogancamp himself and some of the other dolls represent friends or acquaintances who have impacted his life. Hogancamp takes photos of the dolls using various props to create scenes from an occupied town in Belgium during World War II. Hogancamp still is angry about the bar beating but channels the anger by taking revenge on the Nazi action figures who represent the men who beat him back in 2000. Often, he utilizes some of the female dolls to take revenge on the Nazis, who end up as bloodied corpses on his miniature stage.When a local photographer discovers Hogancamp's collection of photos, he puts him in contact with the publisher of Esopus Magazine, an art magazine, who ends up publishing Hogancamp's work. Later, an art gallery agrees to put on an exhibition of Hogancamp's photos and Hogancamp grapples with the idea of getting out of his shell and making the trip to Greenwich Village where he'll have to interact with real-life people.I found the most interesting part of 'Marwencol' is when various people talk about Hogancamp including friends, co-workers and those who knew him before he sustained brain damage. These brief interviews serve to fill in the back story regarding Hogancamp's character. In addition, his rise to notice beyond his small circle of friends, is also quite fascinating and perhaps more of the public reaction to this newly found 'artiste', could have been included in the documentary.Certainly Hogancamp's miniatures have helped him cope with his devastating brain injury and has been instrumental in his recovery. And it is quite clear, that he is a talented person, with an artistic eye. Nonetheless, two questions arise regarding Hogancamp's 'work': 1) Is it really art? and 2) In the long run, is his attachment to his fantasy world, a good thing? For me, Hogancamp's miniatures remind me of the 'kitschy' world of Andy Warhol. His obsession with his make believe town (reminiscent of any mediocre, "B" movie about World War II) should appeal more to comic book aficionados than connoisseurs of serious art. And how long should he immerse himself in this make believe world? Isn't it more healthy to interact with real people than maintain the illusion that he's an action hero in his war against the Third Reich? Yes crutches are good when you're first injured—but there comes a time, when one must throw away one's crutches to make further progress. The film does show that Hogancamp has some friends—but I would have preferred to see him interact with his friends a bit more than fall back into his ruminations regarding imaginary Panzer movements.Is Hogancamp that disabled, that he is unable to form a relationship again with a woman? At this point he seems more eccentric than devastatingly handicapped. I'm not suggesting that he give up Marwencol, but wouldn't it be better if this was merely a hobby than an obsession? Hopefully Hogancamp can profit from his 'talents' in the future. It wouldn't hurt that at a certain point in the future, he engages a therapist or counselor who can help with social skills so he can make more friends and perhaps get involved with a woman (or a man for that matter).Marwencol features unique subject matter and is worth viewing simply because it is different and highlights the struggle of one man coping with a devastating brain injury.

As I've mentioned, when the Cleveland International Film Festival catalog comes out. I read all the summaries and mark the movies I want to see. Marwencol jumped out at me for a few reasons. I had a boyfriend in college who lived near Kingston, NY, where this takes place. It's about a man who recovers from a head injury by building a world of miniatures in his backyard, it becomes therapy. My husband and son are into gaming and miniatures. I thought it sounded very interesting.Turns out the miniatures are more like dolls. And, the therapy was much more like fantasy and art. Mark Hogancamp was attacked in the parking lot of a bar by five guys he'd been drinking with. Head injuries forced him to learn to speak, write, walk and completely function, all over again. Before the accident, he was married, an alcoholic and a gifted artist. After the accident, he was a completely different person, because he had no memory of his previous life. Working with his figures, he's able to practice small motor function, develop his rich imagination and role play some of his anger and aggression. Because he couldn't draw anymore, he captured scenes on film, with his camera. Now, friends and admirers of his work are urging him to share his town, Marwencol, with the world, with a gallery showing, a book and this film. Mark Hogancamp is a sympathetic and interesting guy. Marwencol is definitely an interesting place. Just when you think, "Okay, I get it, but this is weird," it gets weirder! But then, the pieces start to fit together. Fascinating story, well told, amazing imagery. It's an unforgettable place. Marwencol gets a 10 out of 10.