Whoever wrote, "If you build it, they will come," must have known the story of Marta Becket. "Amargosa," a documentary film about Ms. Becket's life's work, is as much a marvel as the woman herself. Lavish yet stark, startling yet peaceful, dreamy yet human, the film, like the woman it brings us, is simply heavenly. It is a cinematic magnum opus on just such a story. On just such a life. Ms. Becket, now in her 70's, re-built a theater, an opera house, in the middle of Death Valley. She made her life there. She does her work there, her "life's work." And people come from all over the world to see her perform.

Ms. Becket is a wonderful artist. She is a woman who has pursued art to it's very limit. She is the Renaissance woman, painter, dancer, speaker, mime, actress, comedienne, composer. She is also keenly aware of the plight of animals and of spirituality. And all of this is conveyed in Todd Robinson's marvelous documentary film focusing on her life, "Amargosa." The title refers to this town, in the middle of the desert, where Ms. Becket has her theater.

Springing, primarily as a dancer, from the art scene in New York City some 30 or 40 years ago, Ms. Becket soon found herself sidelined by car trouble while on vacation. Stuck, in the middle of Death Valley, she found herself looking into an abandoned theater in an almost ghost-town. She had found her home. It is here she remained, never to see New York again. Her story is so unique, so intriguing and so interesting, that I dare not expose too much of it here. That work is more properly and astutely handled by the film. Let me begin by saying that the film is about the life of one of America's greatest and most obscure artists. But it is much more than that. It's about living life from the inside out. It's about the spirit-life of existence itself. It's about the existence of beauty and the serenity of a life lived in a corner. Not lived in secret, or in shame, but off the beaten path. "Amargosa" is a road picture about the road less taken. And the marvelous world inhabited by one, Marta Becket. And those who veer into her sphere. And how they are forever changed. And more and more and more...

The effect that Ms. Becket has on her visitors and friends is the consequence of the film as well. It will forever change you. It will forever change how you look at life and art and at the periphery of life itself. "Amargosa" takes place in the world in the corner of your eye. It's a sparkle, a twinkle.

The film is gorgeous. Beautiful. Words cannot describe it. Robinson, with DP Curt Apduhan, brings us beautiful pictures that accentuate the elegance of this realm. The landscapes, the sunsets, the animals in motion, the face of Becket. These are pieces of art. Robinson places it all on film with perfection. It's absorbing. We are drawn into the beauty of the film. And these images only begin to accentuate the beauty of the life and the beauty of the woman the film focuses on. This is the absolute best of what documentary film can offer us. This isn't just a story, isn't just a documentary, it's a FILM. It's a grand and beautiful film. Nothing less would be worthy of being graced with Ms. Becket's facade and with her extraordinary story.

"Amargosa" is delicately accentuated by a stunning score provided by Randy Miller. Standing well on it's own, the music becomes ethereal when coupled with the remarkable film we see here. They combine like the best of art, like dance and song or like paint and sculpture, this music with these images, to move the film into the territory of the ecclesiastic. When the voice of Amy Cook is added to a few songs, the film soars like a spirit freed, like fine white mesh in the wind. It adds just the right quality to the scene it enhances. This is perfection.

I don't want to denigrate the film in any way. It is too special for that. But to be fair, some things are not perfect within it's walls. The narration by Mary McDonnell isn't really pointed enough. It doesn't seem to add much to the film and one wonders why she was chosen for the task. At least it's not too typical nor too breathy. The film also veers around in territory a bit, taking some time to establish who Becket is. But this is more lyricism than questionable storytelling. The film is poetry. It isn't concerned so much with chronology or subjectivity or such typical documentary devices. And rightly so. Becket's story is poetry. There is no use exposing it in any such standard method. Still, those who know nothing of the tale may find themselves struggling to put it all together at first.

The film may go into what seems like some unnecessary territory. This is Becket's story, no doubt, but it can seems a little too much time is spent discussing her failed marriage and her love of animals. And we also wonder why the film begins to delve into the spiritual aspects of the setting. But rest assured that this is a film where the pieces represent far much more than the whole. Certain bits may not seem important, even at the film's end. But upon reflection, the story will begin to wash over you and all the desperate angles will sort of sum up on their own. Like any good art, it is not necessarily immediate. Only through reflection and meditation will the whole scope of the film begin to gel in your cerebral synapses.

"Amargosa" is a rumination upon a life. It's theme is the passage of time. It's about how life is "spent." And one such case where it is spent wisely and beautifully. And it's about how art is one of our most important American resources. As is Marta Becket. Thank you Mr. Robinson. Thank you for this amazing and remarkable story. Thank you Ms. Becket. Thank you for reminding me what art and life are truly all about.

Note:

Official website is http://www.amargosafilm.com

The film was on the list of 12 finalists for the Academy Award nomination.

I recall seeing a film about Ms. Becket on PBS several years ago. This film mentions that a "film crew" has been at the site in years past. I don't know whether it was the film, or my youth, but it seems to me Ms. Becket seemed to be portrayed much more as an "oddball" in that prior film than she is here.

Report Card

Content: A+

Completeness: A+

Cinematography\Lighting: A+

Special Effects\Make Up: A+

Music: A+

Final Grade: A+

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