Film Review: Saving Brinton

— Review by OISD Students Isabella Evans, Moose Kinsey, and Cat Moore —
as part of the Orcas Island Film Fest/Orcas Island Lit Fest Collaboration

In a first time collaboration between The Orcas Island Film Festival and The Orcas Island Lit Fest (READ STORY) in association with Novel Lab, the Future Film Critics program offered Orcas youth the opportunity to try their hand at reviewing films during the 5th Annual Film Festival. Participating kids had their movie and snacks paid for and received guidance, mentoring and editing from professional, published writers.

In a farmhouse basement on the Iowa countryside, eccentric collector Mike Zahs makes a remarkable discovery: the showreels of the man who brought moving pictures to America’s Heartland. Among the treasures: rare footage of President Teddy Roosevelt, the first moving images from Burma, a lost relic from magical effects godfather Georges Méliés. These are the films that introduced movies to the world. And they didn’t end up in Iowa by accident. The old nitrate reels are just some of the artifacts that belonged to William Franklin Brinton. . .who became America’s greatest barnstorming movieman.

During the weekend of the Orcas Island Film Festival, middle school and high schoolers had a chance to view this documentary. As part of the Orcas Island Film Fest/Orcas Island Lit Fest Teen Critics program, here are a few of their responses to the film.

Isabella Evans, OISD 8th grader
““Saving Brinton” is an intriguing and educational movie about the old Brinton films found by eccentric collector Mike Zahs. It gives an in-depth look at Zahs’s life, as well as the history of the Brinton family. Even though the movie was originally supposed to be focused on the found films, Zah’s personality and life ended up surmounting the originally intended subject and I’m glad it did. Michael Zahs made for a funny and entertaining subject and he is a great storyteller, which kept the movie captivating. It was remarkable to watch the actual found films, as many of them were exhibited throughout the movie. Preserving Brinton offered a new view on the history of film for me, and I enjoyed every bit of it.”

Moose Kinsey, OISD 7th grader
“As a classic film lover, I expected only greatness from the film Saving Brinton and it sure didn’t disappoint. This fascinating documentary covered more than simply the found films by collector Michael Zahs, but also how William and Indiana Brinton, the owners of the films, deeply affected people in each town showing as the films were shown throughout communities in the midwest. And, whereas I expected the movie to be specifically about the Brintons, I especially loved how, instead, the filmmakers focused on Michael Zahs interesting life, and his efforts to preserve and protect the films. Afterwards, I had an opportunity to meet Mr. Zahs and discuss preserving films, and even had a conversation about facial hair, which is signature to his eccentric look. Overall, the film was stunning and, in my opinion, deserves an academy award.”

Cat Moore, OISD 7th grader
“Saving Brinton is an enlightening documentary about the early days of filmmaking and the man that shared this new technology with people throughout the United States over a century ago. In 87 minutes, the film shows segments of these early films from the perspective of a contemporary man in Iowa (Mike Zahs) who discovered the films in an Iowa basement and went on a 20-year journey to learn all he could about the Briton family. It included interesting facts on the Brinton family, and showed how their films were some of the first in the world. I really enjoyed the special effects in these early films. It not only provided interesting information on the Brinton family but also about Iowa and the man that fought to bring recognition to these historic films.”