Minding the Gap

'Minding The Gap (2018)' is, essentially, a home-video that became something greater, an exploration of the lives of three young men (including one who's primarily behind the camera) as they contend with the circumstances of their upbringing. The thing starts out as a 'Mid90s (2018)'-esque ode to skateboarding but it soon becomes a fly-on-the-wall look at how abuse shapes people's lives. It's a complex and layered piece, one that isn't content with viewing things in black and white, and it looks at a variety of things that everyday people often struggle with but don't tend to voice. As you watch its stars evolve, you become increasingly invested in their journeys. It's incredibly compelling and it has moments of real resonance, to boot. It's essentially therapy for those involved, as pointed out by one of its leads, and it also culminates in an odd kind of catharsis for the audience. This is the kind of brave, emergent filmmaking that proves you don't need fancy equipment or, even, a polished script to make a movie. You just need a little bit of skill and a lot of heart. 8/10