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- 2018
- Not Rated
- 1 h 33 m
- 2018
- Not Rated
- 1 h 33 m
Summary Welcome to Rockford, Illinois, in the heart of Rust-Belt America, home to debut filmmaker Bing Liu. With over 12 years of footage, Bing discovers connections between two of his skateboarder friends' volatile upbringings and the complexities of modern-day masculinity. As the film unfolds, Bing captures 23-year-old Zack’s tumultuous relati...
Directed By: Bing Liu
- 2018
- Not Rated
- 1 h 33 m
- 2018
- Not Rated
- 1 h 33 m
Minding the Gap
8.0
Where to Watch
Summary Welcome to Rockford, Illinois, in the heart of Rust-Belt America, home to debut filmmaker Bing Liu. With over 12 years of footage, Bing discovers connections between two of his skateboarder friends' volatile upbringings and the complexities of modern-day masculinity. As the film unfolds, Bing captures 23-year-old Zack’s tumultuous relati...
Directed By: Bing Liu
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
Based on 28 Critic Reviews
89
93% Positive
26 Reviews
26 Reviews
7% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
Based on 28 Critic Reviews
89
93% Positive
26 Reviews
26 Reviews
7% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
While this is an autobiographical story about a young aspiring filmmaker and his skateboarding crew, it also speaks volumes about contemporary rust-belt USA, masculinity and abuse, weaving its themes and characters around scenes of the boys sailing through the near-empty streets.
Minding the Gap is an essay that never feels like an essay, an intelligent and compassionate grappling with some of the most painful issues presently haunting the body politic: toxic masculinity and domestic violence, economic depression and a deep, existential despair. But Liu doesn’t contrive a simplistic thesis on Middle American misery to suit himself and his friends.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 53 User Ratings
8.0
85% Positive
45 Ratings
45 Ratings
8% Mixed
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
8% Negative
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 53 User Ratings
8.0
85% Positive
45 Ratings
45 Ratings
8% Mixed
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
8% Negative
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
Incredible movie. I went in as a fan of King of the Road and skate culture in general, thinking it would be a light-hearted doc touching on the lives of some skaters. But WOW. What a powerhouse of a film that deftly handles some super serious topics. Major props to Bing Liu - his conversation with his mother is beautiful and heartbreaking. If there's any justice, this will be a Best Picture nom come early next year. A Must-See indeed.
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Simply a beautiful film. Serious kudos to the documentarian - who is also a major subject of the film - for carefully following his subjects for at least 4 or 5 years to weave an important tale of abuse within families. There are triumphs of the spirit among the stories of tragic beginnings.
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A tour de force of documentary filmmaking, Minding the Gap is a lively, often beautifully shot film about a pit of hopelessness–from dead-end jobs to drunken arguments to bad decisions. This is modern day John Cassavetes with tattoos and punk music.
Minding the Gap starts out as one story, suggesting one set of character arcs, and then flows in unexpected directions and underlines new sets of themes, without ever feeling haphazard or ill-considered.
It generates a sense of personal immediacy that elevates Minding The Gap above the confines of mere portraiture; his presence facilitates (and sometimes hinders) honest admissions from his subjects.
There’s something inexplicably soothing about the wide shots of the boys rolling along, spiraling down the levels of a parking garage or swerving around city streets at sunset.
This is a fluent, watchable piece of work, though not quite as lucid as it might have been. A poignant tribute, at any rate, to the lost innocence of skateboarding.
One of the most pleasant surprises of 2018. What starts out seemingly like a skate-culture doc turns into a heart-felt and powerful meditation on abuse among families. All three main characters are extremely sympathetic. The way it all comes together - the way it invites you into the thesis - and how the filmmaker explains to his subjects what the doc is truly about - is masterful.
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A tender and nuanced, though loosely-woven, examination **** of friends, their love of skateboarding, and their struggle to break the cycles of violence and poverty that have shaped their lives.
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It comes off as a little aimless at first, but this documentary about some skaters really starts to take shape after the first 20 minutes or so. It's extremely personal and heartfelt, and by the end you'll find yourself more invested in the story than you probably ever thought you would be. Really an excellent documentary.
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Touching story that this documentarian was able to weave between the experience of himself and two of his friends AND tie it to skateboarding. Painfully realistic throughout its runtime, except for the ending which I have a hard time believing, but maybe I'm too cynical. Recommended from me, especially if you're into skateboarding.
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Skate Away And Roll Away.
Minding The Gap
Liu's documentary on a diverse group of people that are connected with one heart pumping passion is not only an essential eye opening subject to explore upon but is also a gripping and compelling family drama. As far as the clips of all the skateboard stunts are concerned, there is no need to look back. But one of the main reason why they work so smoothly on narration, is when the makers need a visual medium while someone is narrating, these clips help immensely for them to link all the parallel tracks perfectly. Divided into three tracks and three lives, the one that connects you with majorly is Johnson's or at least it did to me.
Since his track does not stand exceptionally alone, one can connect on multiple level with his life. On the other hand, the truly dramatic or cinematic of all, is of Liu's which is so sharp and powerfully executed that the emotions may rumble you down to tears. And the rest of the space is taken by Johnson who has his own dodgy issues where the other related to him too gets to factor in effectively, a fair and balanced trial put on by the maker.
Another primary reason it speaks more to the common people, is because they keep them grounded as much as possible, despite of having an exceptional life, the tiny details on their routines and light and breezy equation with someone, is how they easily get under your skin. Liu; the director, himself has done a splendid work on foliating the drama that they went through, it can be really difficult to project your own story with such conviction especially without any manipulation or milking too much of the material. Minding The Gap is the most balanced documentary possible, it sticks by its job, the genre never overtakes the content and the drama communicates with you.
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Production Company
ITVS International,
Kartemquin Films,
P.O.V./American Documentary
Release Date Aug 17, 2018
Duration 1 h 33 m
Rating Not Rated
Genres
Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 1 Nomination
Cinema Eye Honors Awards, US
• 3 Wins & 8 Nominations
Critics' Choice Documentary Awards
• 1 Win & 5 Nominations
