Marwencol

Cast & Crew

Jeff Malmberg

Director

Jeff Malmberg

Producer

Tom Putnam

Producer

Matt Radecki

Producer

Chris Shellen

Producer

Ash Black Bufflo

Original Music

Critic Reviews for Marwencol

Audience Reviews for Marwencol

• Mar 27, 2012

  "Marwencol" is an intriguing documentary about an intriguing individual, Mark Hogancamp. On a general level, it is concerned with identity, as after having been savagely beaten outside of a bar in Kingston, NY, that leaves him in a coma for nine days and requiring facial reconstruction surgery, he suffers from brain damage that causes a loss of memory which returns in brief flashes.(The most unsettling and scariest parts of the film are of him walking along narrow country roads.) In time, he learns he used to be self-destructive in his heavy drinking which he puts a stop to and is definitely surprised at the amount of women's shoes he owns. Mark does not last long in formal therapy. And no longer able to draw like he used to, he constructs a lovingly detailed reconstruction of a Belgian village from World War II, 'Marwencol,' populated by action figures and Barbie dolls, in which he casts himself as the main hero, simultaneously a man of action and a bartender who no longer drinks like, as he says, Sam Malone.(Which I never saw the logic of, but whatever.) And, yes, of course, there is a time machine. This allows him to work out his frustrations and fantasies safely(especially involving cat fights) and his friends and co-workers feel it an honor to also be represented. So, in the end, you have acceptance.
  

  walter m Super Reviewer
• Oct 07, 2011

  <i>"When his world was stolen, Mark Hogancamp made a world of his own."</i> After a vicious attacks leaves him brain-damaged and broke, Mark Hogancamp seeks recovery in "Marwencol", a 1/6th scale World War II-era town he creates in his backyard. <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></font></center> As with all the very best documentaries, it's what is implied rather than what is said outright. This brilliantly restrained piece chooses to give subtle information at all the right times, perfectly conveying the emotion attached to its subject matter. Previous alcoholic, bitter and angry, Mark Hogancamp was left in a coma after he received a savage beating outside a bar by five men. The resulting damage meant that he had also lost a lot of memory from the attack, losing details in his life (including his need for alcohol). Having lost his identity, Mark dealt with his traumas by constructing the titular miniature town of Marwencol, often reenacting scenes from flashes of memory, with toy dolls closely representing people in his life. Brilliantly paced, we learn of Mark's life, anxieties, and fears, and learn of a lonely, highly intelligent individual, who just does not want any further pain in his life. Thus, retracting from life and society, to live through his doll-town stories. If the first half is a little labouring in providing information to the viewer, the second half justifies this approach no end, as we compassionately learn of Mark's personality, what makes him comfortable, and the few real loves throughout his life. As well as the reason for the attack that so affected his life. The film is never judgmental, never dwells on its issues more than others. Scenes of Mark walking a toy jeep 160 miles on his trips to the local stores in order to wear the wheels in and appear authentic, prove to be highly endearing rather than seem odd or snigger-inducing. When Mark's constructions are later discovered as works of art, he struggles with his preparation for a New York exhibition of his constructions and photography. Yet clearly his honesty and integrity have a strong effect on the people he encounters there. What we are left with in the end is an honest portrait of a man overcoming his life's traumas. Therapy through art, in the most dignified and humble of ways.
  

  Super Reviewer
• May 25, 2011

  More than a simple documentary about an artform, Marwencol digs deep into the psyche and troubled past of the creator, Mark Hogencamp. Beaten by five men and left brain damaged, Mark had to relearn everything about his own life all over again. Because he has little money, Mark's various physical and psychological therapies are cut off after a short amount of time. In his desperation to learn about himself, he begins developing a town called Marwencol, inhabited by Barbies, GI Joes, and various other dolls. Each doll is the "alter-ego" of someone in Mark's life, including his mother, ex-wife, and co-workers. Over time the town mirrors events in his own life, or least the way he wants his life to be. In his town he's found true love, fights Nazis, and runs a bar/cat fighting club. Through the process of putting this together, Mark is forced to face his years of alcoholism, and fetish for women's shoes, which had led to his original attack. Moving, and full of empathetic scenes, Marwencol is as close to heartbreaking as humanly possible.
  

  Super Reviewer
• May 24, 2011

  Very neutral story telling of a man recovering not only from his brain damage, but his life before the brain damage. The movie starts with a sympathetic portrayal of a man who is injured and looses all his knowledge and memories at 37 and has to relearn everything. Once he relearns the basic he has to reinvent himself. He learns from his friends who he was whether alcoholism failed marriage cross-dresser and artist. In recreating his life he chooses what qualities to carry forward. There is a parallel narrative of his hobby/Life/Art of building dioramas featuring him and his friends in 1/6-th scale living lives in WWII that parallel the events in his life.
  

  bill c Super Reviewer