Jasper Mall

Jasper Mall is a 2020 feature-length documentary that offers an intimate look into a year in the life of a dying shopping mall located in the heart of suburban Alabama. The film is a snapshot of American culture in a state of flux, providing deep insight into the way society is changing and adapting in the face of economic shifts and transformation of consumer habits.

Directed by prolific filmmakers Bradford Thomason and Brett Whitcomb, Jasper Mall breaks the typical cultivation of spectacle found in contemporary mainstream cinema. Instead, it pivots to the mundanity and quiet melancholia of everyday life that is often ignored. Filmed over the course of a year, the movie is defined by a delicate, naturalistic aesthetic that reinforces its contemplative appeal.

The film tells stories through a variety of characters. Mike, the mall's stalwart security guard, becomes the de facto protagonist across the yearlong narrative. Dashingly earnest and deeply devoted to his job, Mike provides an everyday reality check on the struggles, joys, and monotony of sustaining an aging commercial colossus.

Alongside Mike, we meet Robin and Joel, a spirited elderly couple who have made the Mall their second home. They bring a unique perspective as they have seen the mall in its heyday and watched its decline. Their constant presence offers a glimpse into the soul of the mall and the nostalgia rooted within its walls.

Another notable character is Nikki, the owner of a small boutique, whose inconsistency in affording the rent becomes one of the many symbols of the mall's existential uncertainty. She articulates her struggle to keep her place in the mall against the backdrop of online shopping, revealing a characteristic resilience that deepens her character's narrative arc.

Lauren, a young girl visiting the mall with her friends, provides a perspective of the younger generation. She's drawn to the vintage charm of the mall, yet she represents an era that is more likely to click a button to shop than visit such traditional establishments.

The film's melancholic beauty is enhanced by the lens that adroitly captures the haunted, retro-chic aesthetics that define the landscape of the mall. Whether it's the sun-drenched parking lot or the neon aura within, the cinematography captures an eeriness and a transient beauty that pervades the mall. Distinctly 80s, with play zones and idle arcade machines adding to its vibe, Jasper Mall is presented as more of a time capsule than a mall.

What sets Jasper Mall apart is its balanced sense of realism. It doesn't succumb to sentimental clichés in its portrayal of a dying mall and its inhabitants. Instead, it mourns the mall's slow death soberly, presenting it as a reflection of the larger truths about the ever-changing American landscape, economies, and individual lives.

From rhythmic morning cleanings to the poignant closure of stores, the film contrasts the hustle and bustle of everyday business with the bleak future of the mall, creating a compelling narrative about unremarkable lives intersecting in remarkable ways. The mundane becomes meaningful, turning it into an exploration of personal histories, identities, and dreams all housed under one roof.

The background score is subtly present, complementing the sprawling silence that envelops the mall, reinforcing the emotional narrative without overpowering the verbal and visual storytelling.

In conclusion, Jasper Mall is an inflection point in documentary filmmaking. It isn't about heroes and villains, conflicts or resolutions. It's about regular people, navigating their lives within and around a mall. It’s a testament to the past, an examination of the present, and a speculation about the future. The film serves as an epitaph for a fading slice of Americana, making it an evocative ode to places like Jasper Mall that have quietly borne witness to a society's evolving sensibilities and lifestyles.