Joey Magidson
A Debra Granik project, no matter what form, will suck you in to the story of her protagonist. Whether it’s narrative films like Down to the Bone, Winter’s Bone, or Leave No Trace, where she’s created memorable character studies, or documentaries like Stray Dog, Granik knows people. She knows who’s fascinating, who’s compelling, and what will capture your attention. Most recently, she’s completed the five-part documentary Conbody VS Everybody. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, received a special mention at Doc NYC, and is nominated at the Gotham TV Awards for Breakthrough Nonfiction Series. With that show coming tomorrow, I recently sat down on Zoom with Granik for a chat. Today, that conversation comes your way.
The documentary series, in five parts, takes an immersive look at a tight-knit group of formerly incarcerated New Yorkers hoping to break the cycle of recidivism. They’re doing this while navigating society’s many obstacles to reentry for the formerly incarcerated, though led by Coss Marte, they find an outlet in the form of an underground gym. Taking place over eight years on the Lower East Side, it’s a story of transformation, both moving and powerful. The more you watch it, the more you want to see these people get a fair shake. Granik knows how to let the story evolve on its own, paying dividends in the process.
Below, you can hear my discussion with Granik. I spoke to her a bit about how her narrative films pair well with her documentaries, as well as complimented her on her actress showcases. After all, Down to the Bone gave us Vera Farmiga, Winter’s Bone gave us Jennifer Lawrence, and Leave No Trace gave us Thomasin McKenzie. With Conbody VS Everybody, I mostly wanted to hear Granik talk about how a long term project like this comes together. She speaks so warmly about Marte, as well as reverentially to documentary on the whole, making it a fascinating conversation. When you have the chance to see this doc, make it your business to do so. You won’t regret it…
Here now is my interview with Conbody VS Everybody filmmaker Debra Granik. Enjoy:
Conbody VS Everybody is nominated for Breakthrough Nonfiction Series at the 2nd Gotham TV Awards on Monday!
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