An emotional rollercoaster is how one friend described her first impression of attending a film festival, a thought that did occur to me on more than one occasion throughout my journeys on the film festival circuit. Maybe it’s because you’re with a small group of strangers and co-workers, most often situated in a small host town that is not always receptive to invading cinephiles, who function on what appears to be a well thought out daily plan, that is in actuality just an etch-a-sketch of a plan. For a few days you are in Movie Netherworld, sipping soup and talking films, watching films, drinking and talking about films, watching films, dealing with the bad weather and watching films, loving the good weather and talking films, checking your emails and updating your blog and watching films, running into locals and recommending films, dodging filmmakers whose films you didn’t like, and trying not to be obvious about how clearly you are stalking the filmmaker whose film you did. The 2008 True/False Film Festival was all that and more. It really races across the film festival landscape like a shooting star. I’d go as far as to say that the level of undisguised joy and participation of the whole town of Columbia left me with a renewed sense of hope for the country. Patriotism isn’t stirred up by most film festival-small town combinations, but as Dale Cooper would say: “I’ve only been in Twin Peaks a short time, but in that time I have seen decency, honor and dignity. That way of living I thought had vanished from the Earth, but it hasn’t, its right here in Twin Peaks.” And it’s right there in Columbia, Missouri, too. So it’s fitting that the fest would close on a high note. James Marsh’s gem of a documentary (on tightrope walker Philippe Petit) MAN ON WIRE, moved me with its dancing lights and whirling dervish speeds, seducing me with its deceptively simple story of one man’s dream to walk across the Twin Towers on a wire. Before you know it, you’re holding your breath, and that you know the protagonist survived is pointless. The entire theater has been moved to silence, and now you believe in magic.

Thanks, True/False. And hope to see you next year!