This past week I watched 306 Hollywood on Prime. Twice. I plan on watching it again this week. In fact, I loved it so much that today I drove up to Hillside and photographed the house. When I watch movies during the day, I usually make a note of it and a brief impression to add to my daily calendar entry before bed. The word I wrote and circled twice was: magical. 306 was unbelievably original and, like Dear Zachary, it introduces the viewer to someone, in this case, Grandma Annette, that they wish could have been a close friend.
(photo kidnapped from amazon)
From the website:
When siblings Elan and Jonathan Bogarín undertake an archaeological excavation of their late grandmother's house, they embark on a magical-realist journey in search of what life remains in the objects we leave behind. 306 HOLLYWOOD transforms the dusty fragments of an unassuming life into an epic metaphor for the nature of memory, time, and history.
It's a film that is better seen and felt than to try to do it justice with descriptions that will not measure up. I'm sure, like all documentaries, that it may not be for everyone, but I personally adored it. It made me sad that I didn't see it sooner as it would have urged me to film Nana Irma talking about her life and her thoughts. But moving forward I think I'll try to do a brief video interview with all my favourite people just to have as a little time capsule of who they were at a certain point in time. Isn't that just the best thing about art? When it inspires you to change your life in even a small way and make it better.
(How stinkin' cute is this little gem?!)
Email sent to Elan - Sun, Aug 15, 2021 at 9:57 PM:
Hello!
I watched your film this past week, twice in fact, and both times there was a specific moment that upset me. It was when your mother spoke of how she was not at the hospital when your grandmother passed. I am writing to ask you to pass this information along - when my great aunt was in a nursing home and the end was near, my mother and her sisters took turns staying at her bedside, always wanting to make sure that she was not alone. My mother had to run home quickly and told her aunt that she or one of the girls would be over shortly. By the time my mother got home the nurses called to say that Peggy was gone. The guilt, much like your mom's, was overwhelming until one of the nurses told my mother that this happens a lot, as some people will want to wait until they are alone to finally let go. That it isn't as if they were abandoned in their hour of need, but instead given the chance to go in private, perhaps as a way to spare the loved ones from seeing them pass. I know for you and your family it's been years since your grandmother died, but in case your mother was still guilt-ridden over not being there, maybe let her know that there's nothing to feel guilty about. That she gave her mom one last gift, the ability to leave this earth on her own terms.
Thanks to both you and your brother for creating such a moving and mesmerizing tribute.
Lisa Star
Response - Aug 17, 2021 at 2:02 PM:
Hi Lisa --
Thanks so much for this lovely note, watching the film, and your extremely kind words in general.
After the film came out, multiple people reached out to share that their loved ones also passed when the family had left the room or hospital. After many of these stories, my mom was able to let go of the guilt and understand that this was in fact something that happened often. However, I will share your note with her as well, as I am sure she will appreciate it.
Thanks again for reaching out.
Warmly,
Elan
