Hotel Dallas

Rife with deadpan humor and beautiful shots, Hotel Dallas is an intriguing meditation on how a work of art (or entertainment) - even something as seemingly mundane as an American television show - can, through the alchemy of context and the quirks of history, become transmuted into something evocative, strangely compelling, and utterly new. The "trick mirror" portrait one gets of American culture resonates both comically and mythically. I found this film to be utterly charming, transporting in all the right ways - both to Romania and well beyond - and I think it's fair to say that there's really nothing else quite like it.

Greetings again from the darkness. Remember when the 1980's TV show "Dallas" saved Romania? Though it's the tongue-in-cheek theme of this innovative docudrama, it's understandable if you haven't previously heard about this connection in the Romania-United States pop culture clash. Married filmmakers Livia Ungar and Sherng-Lee Huang deliver a visually unique standout even amongst the unusual offerings of a film festival.

In the 1980's communist Romania, "Dallas" was the only Western show permitted to be broadcast to the general public … the idea being it would act as a warning of the evils of capitalism. Of course the result was much different, and Romanians embraced the film as a fantasy lifestyle. The show perpetuated the Poverty vs Wealth, and Communism vs Freedom differences.

Ms. Ungar also stars as a version of her youthful self, and her training in art plays a huge role in how she presents this story … it's artsy, imaginative and even impressionistic at times. She utilizes "Endless Column" from Romanian sculptor Constantin Brancusi as the imagery for the link to United States culture and dreams. Time is also a bit relative here, as we bounce forwards and backwards periodically.

One of the more fascinating segments is the Southfork Ranch-style Hotel developed by a Sunflower Oil business tycoon (who also spent time in prison). It's known as the Southfork of Slobazia, and one of the most oddball songs/videos you'll ever hear/see accompanies us on the tour.

Patrick Duffy, who of course played Bobby Ewing in the "Dallas" series, plays an unusual American tourist named Mr. Here. Mr. Duffy contributes quite a bit of narration and his appearance adds to the surreal feel of the film. There are also re-stagings or reimaginings of some actual "Dallas" plot lines, including the infamous "Pam's dream". For those who like their movies on the extreme end of the artsy scale, they will be quite happy. Others may just be satisfied with the excessive number of shots featuring Ms. Ungar's rear end in tight denim jeans.

Infantile artistic vision.

I wanted so much to like this movie. I do remember neighbours screaming from the window "Incepe Dallaaaaas!!". But Ms. Ungar was a toddler during those days. She was most certainly born after the revolution. That's not the problem. The problem is that she did not do her homework. The vehicle, the subject, is not really fully explored.

The problem is that this subject is so rich, with so much opportunity for analysis, and so many layers, but instead of actually meeting them heads on this movie gets lost in just pure silliness, stuttering concepts half-convinced of the direction it wants to take.

If you're going to desecrate the idea of documentary, then, it'd better be for a good cause. It'd better be done by a steady hand and good artistic vision. This, fell flat.