306 Hollywood

306 Hollywood

Elan and Jonathan Bogarín were like many other families who would often go to visit their grandmother, Annette Ontell. They remember her fondly for her affectionate nature, the way she used to fret over untidy things when visitors were around, the funny sayings that came out of her mouth and the pride she had in being part of a Jewish family. Throughout their lives they filmed their grandma randomly speaking about her days on earth and even love relationships. This went on until in an unexpected turn of events; she died at ninety three years old.

For several more months, Elan and Jonathan persuade their mother to let them dig up artifacts from their late grandmama’s house at 306 Hollywood Avenue in New Jersey as a form of grieving process and preserving memories about one woman who has been so important to them. Going through numerous papers and objects which may disclose some of the family’s deepest secrets such as an uncle who died young or a grandfather with multiple diseases is what they will be doing.

While going through the house they have shared many sweet moments including a can that is ten years past its expiry date or a fire extinguisher not used since long time ago. They are accountant’s children hence this man saved everything throughout his entire life so they are only following suit after all this time.

Eventually, this project by Bogaríns turns into “306 Hollywood,” which is shot in an improvised style as if it were done by amateurs. When their Grandmother resided here, it was just a small humble abode like any ordinary home. The film for instance uses magical realism for family photos to come alive sometimes while recreating memories at other times or making use of artistic sequences which show Ontell speaking during interviews held over ten years.

In another scene, however, there are beautiful models dressed in clothes made by their grandmother walking out onto the street right in front of the old house just as you would see in a fashion magazine. Subsequently, they take off their dresses which are replaced with the old undergarments of yesteryear and then begin to dance with the dresses hanging from their sides like hangers. This is not the last time the movie will veer into surrealism.

Sometimes their grandma’s everyday objects become art staged as a response that is playful or precise during this kind of Michel Gondry like excavation. In early scenes, old photographs, curiosities and antiquities are arranged together just like life sized scrapbooks on the floor so that as the camera captures them we can see how worn out they are and also how color has faded away over time. On top of her house and in front of it there were shoes and clothes in one frame as if they had been laid out waiting for her to dress up before leaving home. It sums up what the siblings wanted to achieve: memories in an artistic form.

Nevertheless, the film does veer off into many different dimensions in order to further explore the concept of re-evaluating one’s own existence through the things they kept. Elan and Jonathan interview a museum worker who works at the Rockefeller family’s farm about his occupation, a scientist about holding every single atom of a person, an Italian librarian about keeping track of a life’s work and a funeral director speaking on what she thinks about souls.

Of course, the conversations are all rooted in the same story; however, there are moments where these conversations meander slightly too much. They distract emotionally from grandchildren grappling with the grandmother’s death and instead replace it with an intellectual basis.

It is not reminiscent of eulogies but “306 Hollywood” tone is magnificently whimsical. Yes the siblings are sad that she passed away but for over thirty years they visited her home and share memories of each conversation held together during those visits as well. Exploring someone’s life through their possessions is not uncommon almost every time we step inside a museum we do this but as opposed to Charlie Tyrell’s stop motion animated short “My Dead Dad’s Porno Tapes,” Bogaríns chose to blend fairy tale imagery with facts in their film production.

The short also played Sundance this year next to “306 Hollywood” and likewise loops through various random objects belonging to an individual who died before picking up on the complicated feelings towards them by its creator.

While there might be quite a number of deaths in movies, few people depict grief scenes. We hardly know what words provide solace when somebody loses someone dear or why some individuals still find funeral services uncomfortable experiences? Admitting such unorganized emotions indirectly like “306 Hollywood” did feels like both healing process and necessity themselves.

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