Iconicity

As "Iconocity" (2020 release; 88 min.) opens, we find ourselves in the deserts of southern California, where we are introduced on a journey from Palm Springs to Bombay Beach, CA along the Salton Sea, a lake that formed in 1905 when the Colorado River went wild and flooded an area of 350 square miles. At this point we are 5 minutes into the documentary.

Couple of comments: this is directed by Leo Zahn ("Sinatra in Palm Springs")> Here Zahn zeroes in on the thriving art scene that exists in these remote towns in California. Much of the art is what one might consider modern art, much of it outdoors, and way, way off center. Just one example is Slab City, which is entirely off-grid. Somehow the arts scene not only exists, but even thrives. The last 40 minutes of the movie focuses on Bombay Beach, which once thrived (in the 50s-60s-70s) as a resort and vacation destination. Nowadays not much is left of it, but it is attracting lots of artists with specific ideas and determined wills. Just watch! As a complete aside, this general area includes Indio, where the yearly Coachella music festival takes place. I attended it 5 years in a row at one point. I had no idea that less than an hour away were many of the sites discussed in this documentary and now am kicking myself as I would've loved to check out some of the places that are the subject of this interesting documentary. Beware: this is not for anyone in a hurry. Sit back, relax and take in some amazing sights!

"Iconicity" was released in 2020, and I had never heard of it, that is until I stumbled on it by happenstance when browsing for something interesting to watch. I caught it on Amazon Prime just the other night. If you are into arts or simply interesting in something that is definitely not mainstream, I'd readily suggest you check this out and draw your own conclusion.

It was weird and interesting to see such a place exist - and inhabited. I guess you need to be on some type of psychedelics to belong - and appreciate, that community. No A/C or internet? No thanks. The 88 min runtime was too long for the content provided. To many boring interviews, from many of the same people. This would've been much better narrated without the constant blabbing of the locals, and shaved down to 30-45 mins.

Worth watching as it narrates of lost and searching soul finding freedom and inspiration in remote and bizarre communities in the desert of South California. Artists feeling estranged in the big metropolis find in tons of scraps good materials to compose their art pieces. More than art I would say personal expression, which is not necessarily art but could as well be something in between. Many of them could have been lost their minds as homeless having not moved to the desert to find an alternative life.