306 Hollywood

306 Hollywood is a 2018 documentary movie that revolves around the stories, secrets, and mysteries encapsulated within the walls of a single house. Directed by Elan and Jonathan Bogarín and featuring Sherry Anthony, Ruby Berube, and Nicole Bloomfield, the film presents an enchanting blend of reality, memory, and magic, which it elegantly portrays in the form of a cinematic patchwork.

The Bogaríns, upon the death of their beloved grandmother, Annette, dive into the vast collection of belongings she left behind in her New Jersey home of decades. Soon they realize that the house, located at 306 Hollywood Avenue, is a treasure trove of stories, lives, and histories encapsulated within its walls.

The enthralling journey begins when the sibling filmmakers decide to use their grandmother's house as an archaeological excavation site. They bring together archeologists, physicists, and fashion conservators to analyze, interpret, and make sense of Annette’s items. From sewing needles to toothbrushes, every item in the house is treated as an artifact – each one a small gate to the past, telling a different tale.

Annette, the matriarch herself, leads the narratives through audiotapes, the documentary was able to incorporate. The audiotapes are conversations recorded by her grandson over a course of ten years. She appears through these audiotapes, reminiscing about her life, laughing at old jokes, and radiating the vibrant spirit that makes us understand why she is still so very missed. Ghostly computer-generated imagery brings her wardrobe to life, her colorful dresses twirling freely in the hallway, running through the gardens, as if just shed by their owner.

The siblings' approach to visual storytelling leans towards surrealism. The film's perspective often shifts from the past to the future, reality to dreams, external to the internal, in ways that highlight the subjective nature of human memory and the multi-dimensionality of lived experiences. The camera roams around the house as an active participant in the exploration, capturing the rooms, the everyday items, and the forgotten nooks with a sense of nostalgic intimacy.

Sherry Anthony, Ruby Berube, and Nicole Bloomfield contribute their unique testimonies to the narrative, along with a host of other people who knew Annette personally. They paint a vivid picture of Annette – an ordinary woman with an extraordinary charm, a Holocaust survivor, a fashion designer with a witty sense of humor, and a loving grandmother filled with wisdom.

The documentary also delves into the ramifications of nostalgia in a poignant and tangible way. At its heart, this story seeks to question the nature of mortality and the inevitable passage of time. It aims to show us that we are more than just the sum of our material possessions. It embarks on grief, the sentiment of missing those who are no longer with us, and simultaneously presents a way of keeping the essence of those souls forever with us.

306 Hollywood is an imaginative, mesmerizing, and beautifully crafted film. While it's deeply personal, it resonates universally, reminding us that every life has its sagas, intricacies, tears, and joy – each one deserving a profound reckoning. The film challenges our perception of what it means to be alive and what we leave behind when we aren't. Balancing subtlety with boldness, realism with magic, it invites us to think, reminisce, and cherish every bit of our existence and those who are an indelible part of it.

In conclusion, 306 Hollywood, is a grand and magical journey documenting the life of an ordinary woman through her surviving artifacts. It is a must-watch for those who love unconventional cinema and appreciate films that delve deep into the human psyche, examining life, death, and the stories we leave behind.