This article isn’t for those who have only made a surface effort to get into cult documentary film and “liked” Louis Theroux on Facebook. A crash course in cult requires repeat viewings of Paris is Burning (1990) and Grey Gardens (1975). Not until you can spell 'OPULENCE' in the same strident tone as a drag ball announcer and 'STAUNCH' in the Long Island drawl of Little Edie Bouvier. Have you earned your stripes and deserve to move on to the next round? This is that next round. This documentary is about the outliers, but that’s precisely what makes it so undeniably cool. Armed with a base knowledge, graduates of the entry level programme can go on to enjoy a successful career in cult film – after consuming our Top Cult Documentaries Series.
HOBO (1992)
Ever felt like quitting your job and hitching a ride to… anywhere? Well, I advise living it vicariously before pulling the trigger with director John T Davis’ Hobo. Beargrease (a name you’d choose too, if you needed an alias on the fly) “catches the Westbound” from Minneapolis to Seattle. He rides the rails for free, and Irish director Davis tracks his movements 2,000 miles across the US of A. Beargrease narrates and philosophizes their way through the gorgeous scenery of a middle America that few tourists get to experience. This visual travelogue is such an important tribute to those weirdos on the margins of society, and does better than any tourism board to promote US rail travel. Plus, Beargrease has a few words of wisdom that, er, bear repeating.
RE-POST FROM: DAZED
