I watched some scenes again and it really is special. Really smart
shooting decisions (camera-person's instincts), really good work being
at the right places at the right times, and most distinguishable above
all is how no time is spent making anyone unnecessarily villainous.
The good people really shine and the smaller players in the town seem
generally good-natured too. I mentioned that I cried a few times
watching it. Well, I realized it was thinking about things that bug me
about when I was 15 that moved me, but it was realizing that they
really weren't all that bad that was the deeper revelation. I have
never been diagnosed with any disorder, I have never been to a doctor
in my life, but I stuck out like a sore thumb in high school,
lunchtime was a nightmare, gym was hell, I went and got a perm once,
ugly stuff.
And the timelessness of the town was really key for people our age to
relate. Wonderful.
--Sean Williams from
Maysles Films.