Burning Man: Beyond Black Rock

Of course, there isn't a focus on all the freakish wonderment that is Burning Man...that's not the point of the film. It never really was... or could *ever* do it justice if it chose to sample the art/culture/awesomeness and insanity, as one would speculate at the event. That's not how it is done at Burning Man.

Its about the infrastructure, and the effort, and the rest of the very difficult things that go on behind the scenes. And though not exclusively fun...(as a fox newscast might cover the event) its definitely fun to watch...

I enjoyed it very much and I look forward to watching it again. Especially since i saw it before going... it will be interesting to see it again after going.

I had a chance to see Beyond Black Rock at a screening a few weeks ago and I was inspired by its honesty.

Burning Man is a complicated and dense topic to try to compress into 2 hours of film. The makers of this film clearly had a passion for the topic when they were producing this movie. The people in front of the camera are interesting and openly share their Burning Man experiences.

For those who have attended Burning Man. This movie brings back warm memories and shows a side of BM that many of us never see.

If you have not ever had the fortune of attending a Burning Man festival this is a wonderful snapshot of the experience.

The Burning Man festival happens in late August of each year on the scorched playa of the western U.S.A. Over 30,000 revelers congregate to the temporary city of Black Rock, Nevada. This documentary leads us on a 365 day, behind the scenes, countdown to the burning of the man. "Beyond Black Rock" has intimate interviews with many of the keys involved, including the founder of Burning Man. The movie is an insiders view of this eccentric carnival of pyros, performers and artists. Sometimes, the films chronological structure competes with the implied spontaneity of the actual event but the 'burning man' wins in the end. We are left with the ashes everyone's spectacular efforts and a desire to return again the next year.

I cannot say enough about the job these filmmakers did and the monumental task they took on in making this film. First, Burning Man is a topic that has been incredibly marginalized by the media to the point of becoming a recurring joke in The Simpsons (although the director of the Simpsons is at Burning Man every year), and second, to those who DO know about it, its such a sensitive topic and so hard to deliver something that will please the core group.

Well, these guys did it, and in style I must say. This doc is witty, fast moving, and most importantly profoundly informational and moving without seeming too close to the material.

I simply cannot believe this is a first film for Damon Brown. We can expect great things from him in the years to come, I'm sure!

Burning Man has been a counter culture hub and talking point for going on a decade. In this documentary, the filmmakers attempt to breakdown and showcase what this festival, which some commentators in the film call a "proto-apocalpytic, hippy neo-pagon, freakfest," is all about. And with a claim like that, one can't help but wonder what "Burning Man" really IS all about.

But the film goes to great lengths to showcase the people and events that have made the festival what it is over the last 10 or so years. Often spoken about as a spiritual journey, the festival seems like an event that this documentary invites you to understand, but more often than not, your curiosity invites you to explore. Though the documentary does a great job of depicting what Burning Man is, ultimately it leaves you with a yearning to experience the festival for yourself once the credits roll.