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Hybrid (2001)
After watching this film you have to wonder if the film's title is referring to the work of Milford Beeghly, the focus of the film, or to itself. This documentary is such an odd amalgamation of film styles that it can easily be called a hybrid itself. Crafted over six years by Monteith McCollum, the film focuses on his grandfather. Beeghly was a mad-scientist/farmer who dedicated himself, no, became obsessed with the cross pollination of corn.
I realize at this point half my readers threw up their hands, saying "There is no way I'm going to see that!" Hold on though, this is a film that can actually make corn interesting. Seriously. Beeghly takes the stance that corn is a highly sexual vegetable and the film backs him up with stop motion animation of ears of corn frolicking, mating and even masturbating. Suddenly a dull dry topic takes on the feel of a fevered hallucination.
Beeghly was clearly an odd sort. He took up cross pollinating corn at a time when such a thing was considered like witchcraft. He dedicated himself to it to the exclusion of all else, particularly his own family. Interviews with the family make it pretty clear that the passion he had for corn did not extend to his family. Despite his extreme dedication and fervor for corn, Beeghly barely acknowledged the existence of his family. Several interviews with family members that paint a picture of a man who rarely had anything to say to them. Attempts to get to know the man are largely fruitless. One interview revolves around his bizarre ability to pass toothpicks between his teeth. This apparently evolved over decades as a rebuke to flossing.
The film slides back and forth between sad moments about family and misses opportunities for healthy relationships and the oddly lively yet emotionally empty segments on corn. The message is clear that as revolutionary Beeghly was with cross pollinating corn, he was equally a failure at raising a family. The film has a similar nature about it. The mood is chilly and conservative when discussing Beeghly's personal life while erupting into emotion and energy when the topic turns to corn. This is a film where you see corn fornicate and people sit uncomfortably in front of the camera. The look of the film also seems inspired by Beeghly's obsessive and creative nature. McCollum goes nuts trying to find ways to get unique shots. He opts for 16mm black and white film to give a feeling of roughness to the whole affair.
Hybrid is a wildly creative and unique documentary. That praise comes with a warning though. This film isn't for everyone. It is the sort of film that tends to favor art over story, which will no doubt turn off movie goers more not used to such things. That simultaneously makes the film a bonanza for those who prefer art house films. Make sure you know which sort of person you are before deciding to see it. You'll thank me later.
It's possible that the art house crowd may have some problems with it too. There are a lot of shots with nothing happening in them, creating some uneven pacing in a quest for artistic merit and metaphor. The film's primary sin though is simply going on too long. McCollum struggles to bring it to a clean ending, dragging out the proceedings well beyond the audience's patience. That can potentially leave a sour taste in the mouth of viewers that could undermine the director's efforts.
Whatever the viewers' final opinion, no one will be able to deny that Hybrid is a documentary unlike any they've seen before. That alone makes this a film worth seeing.
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