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The documentary My Kid Could
Paint That just screened this afternoon at the Scotiabank theatre. Director
Amir Bar-Lev (pictured right) introduces us to Marla Olmstead; a four year old
girl whose paintings cause a stir in the media.
It started with a story written by a local journalist in the local
newspaper. Soon after, the New York Times gets a lead on this story and posts
its own. Almost overnight, Marla is sensationalized as a child prodigy by some,
although her mother (Laura) dislikes the phrase child
prodigy.
Mark Olmstead (Marla's father) is thrilled by the media attention; as is,
Gallery owner and artist, Anthony Brunelli, who basically represents Marla and
aids in selling her art pieces. As the film progresses, the story takes a
turn. The media frenzy seems to create more chaos in the life of this young
family. The news program 60 Minutes airs a story that depicts Marla's works as
not her own. The show even suggests that maybe her father is the one who
created the initial paintings. Here is where the director comes to a difficult
moment in the film, since he also becomes dubious of Marla's artistic ability.
Subsequently, this becomes a film about the family as a whole; including the
parents' involvement in Marla's career as an artist. Through the film, the
director also tries to include their son Zane, who is also a very smart child
and perhaps all too aware of the situation around him; even though he is only
two years old at the time the film was made.
The film does not offer a straight answer. I think the director wants the
audience to make its own decision about the family and whether or not Marla's
paintings are in fact the real deal.
During the Q&A session Amir Bar-Lev mentioned that at first, his
intention for making this documentary was to "draw attention to the process of
painting." He stated that Marla's parents have seen the end-product and are not
so happy with the outcome. As Bar-Lev said, "we agree to disagree." This
documentary will be released on October 5th, 2007.
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