Kokomo City

A welcome return to the raggedly authentic, verité style documentaries from the 70s and 80s; this accumulates a surprising power and fire, with Smith letting his subjects riff haphazardly at first, until the underlying structure (and angry wail) comes into focus. Keeps its focus narrow on the life experiences of this eclectic (and naturally charismatic) bunch – this does mean a certain degree of repetition and aimlessness sets in towards the finale, but that can’t dent the overall impact.

You gotta love it when a documentary actually lets the subjects not only speak, but leaves room for both them and the viewers to take it in and reason, put their experience into words. Smith lets the camera run - never in a static way - while the interviewed women take us through their lives and choices from every angle. They don't agree on everything, the director lets their arguments complement each other, leading up to first that final shot, and then, heartbreakingly, to the final caption.