AMARGOSA
USA, 1999. Director: Todd Robinson
SeatleWeekly.com
by Emily Baillargeon Russin
the smart alternative
May 11-17, 2000

If the gist of this inspirational documentary is that nothing can keep a true artist from pursuing her dream, then director Todd Robinson has accomplished something rare and beautiful. At 76, Marta Becket is a ballet dancer, painter, singer, and pianist. She is also the owner of Death Valley Junction, CA (pop. 10), a haunted mining town formerly named Amargosa ("wasteland"). Her fortuitous stop for gas in the late '60s led to an impulsive relocation from NYC and the $45/month lease on a crumbling theater. There, the talented Becket sought refuge from her troubled parental relationships in her "world of illusions," and transformed the building with stunning, hand-painted murals across its walls and ceiling. Becket is a vivid, theatrical presence whose story of artistic survival is as unforgettable as the "let's-put-on-a-show" spirit she's used to sustain herself and her fellow townsfolk. Don't miss this one.

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