One of Peck’s finest works, Ernest Cole: Lost and Found delves into the life story of the famed photographer, most notably focusing on his time in exile with great intimacy. Relying mainly on the South African photographer’s own body of work for visuals, complemented by a voiceover reiterating the figure’s own journaled thoughts, the film plays greatly as a deep insight into the man’s personal struggles. When it detracts from this with loud, dramatic retellings of the larger history of South Africa, it begins to feel a little bland in it’s story telling. That isn’t to say Apartheid is a unworthy topic of discussion; however, the intrigue here lies in the personal consequences of Apartheid, specifically those in exile and their homesickness, and during these sequences, the lines between this film and other historical docs become blurred. Nonetheless, it’s principal formula is concrete and when it sticks to it’s unique selling point, set against some tender music, the personal touch, the lived experiences, they are highlighted, allowing the film to shine.
One of Peck’s finest works, Ernest Cole: Lost and Found delves into the life story of the famed photographer, most notably focusing on his time in exile with great intimacy. Relying mainly on the South African photographer’s own body of work for visuals, complemented by a voiceover reiterating the figure’s own journaled thoughts, the film plays greatly as a deep insight into the man’s personal struggles. When it detracts from this with loud, dramatic retellings of the larger history of South Africa, it begins to feel a little bland in it’s story telling. That isn’t to say Apartheid is a unworthy topic of discussion; however, the intrigue here lies in the personal consequences of Apartheid, specifically those in exile and their homesickness, and during these sequences, the lines between this film and other historical docs become blurred. Nonetheless, it’s principal formula is concrete and when it sticks to it’s unique selling point, set against some tender music, the personal touch, the lived experiences, they are highlighted, allowing the film to shine.
