A New York documentary team travels to Argentina to capture their latest in a series of quirky subculture episodes. This time their plan is to feature an eccentric musician who wears a rabbit costume with big ears. But nothing quite runs to plan.
The opening minutes of Magic Farm feel like a spoof TV news show, and on paper, this could have been a cracking celebration of the perils of gonzo documentary making, the kind of youth TV that might once have played on late night weekend Channel 4. In practice, the movie that’s been made is a satire that lacks any bite and becomes a watchable droll character study of misfits on tour.
The hapless and clumsy team of five are nearly as professionally flimsy as their proposed content. Presenter Edna (played by Chloë Sevigny) senses that her show is on its last legs and a lot is riding on this episode. Her husband is exec producer Dave (Simon Rex), somewhat hands off on the details of what’s happening, but historically way too hands on with the crew. Day-to-day production decisions fall to producer Jeff (Alex Wolff) whose his lack of research and curiosity have landed the team in the wrong country. Sound man Justin (Joe Apollonio) is neither streetwise nor aware of his homoerotic aura. The most junior member of the team turns out to be the most competent: Elena (
Amalia Ulman, who also writes and direct the film) successfully manages the budget and coordinates the chaos while dealing with her own personal issues. Her language skills can only partially counter the general feeling that everything is lost in translation.
The local fixer’s tree-climbing daughter (Camila del Campo) sees through the film crew’s antics, yet their presence in her rural village is a welcome break from terminal boredom. She’s probably the most interesting member of the ensemble cast, and more of her perspective on the unfolding madness and panicked fakery would have strengthened the storytelling.
The cinematography takes risks with bold 360-degree shots, strapping cameras to animals, brash colours, and eye-catching editing. But the comedy is sparse: a crew member falling off a skateboard is one of the funniest things that happens. Reference is made to someone having had an affair with the actor Gerard Depardieu. News broke minutes before the preview screening I attended that Depardieu had been convicted of sexually assaulting two women on a film set in 2021. As a consequence, his mention in the film felt very dark, beyond a laughing matter.
The punchline – sorry for the slight spoiler – is that there’s a health emergency developing in the area in which the team are filming. Their documentary skills could have captured what’s happening and told that powerful story, rescuing their reputations and careers. Instead, their self-absorbed incompetence means that they miss all the visible clues that they’ve been tripping over all week.
While Magic Farm doesn’t deliver on the ambition it seemed to promise, it’s still a fun 93-minute tale of media ineptitude. It’s being screened in Queen’s Film Theatre until Thursday 22 May.
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