The Bob Emergency, dir. Jon Bois (2019, 94 mins)
When:
—
Venue:
Birkbeck 43 Gordon Square
Ecstatic Truths is back at BIMI for another screening exploring the idea of what a documentary can be. Directed by Jon Bois, this visually inventive video essay delves into the world of professional sports, homing in on a particular statistical anomaly: More than 10,000 people named Bob have entered the world of sports. But today, there are only nine. What happened? Join us to discover how this seemingly banal numerical factoid is transformed, as Jon Bois takes you on an impressively animated statistical journey, plucking these forgotten athletes out of obscurity, granting them a new legacy based on their nickname alone. Previously relegated to a Wikipedia footnote rather than a prestigious award, Bois now makes each of them the hero of their own story.
(No knowledge or love of professional sports is required to thoroughly enjoy this film! In fact, the less you know, the better…)
Contact name:
Matthew Barrington