Directed by Christopher K. Walker and Michael Beach Nichols. Both also worked on editing and cinematography.
Racists, fascists, hippies, Blacks, Catholics, Muslims all have a right to live here they want. This is the insipid idealism neighborhoods in America are built on. (Not sure why I used insipid there, denotes too much negativity. But I'm writing this on a typewriter and am out of whiteout so we're left with it.) And on the surface this seems to be the center issue at the hear of "Welcome to Leith". But as the documentary pushes on, the real issue here is terrorism. Take a look at the shot below as Cobb and his buddy walk around down with loaded assault rifles.
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| Neighborhood watch...post zombie takeover |
This kind of homegrown terrorism has dominated headlines with tragic results. Leith doesn't end this way, but the goal of terrorism, to cause fear and disrupt the
trophic processes of society are clearly on display.
Far from wanting to live on his own and mind his own business Cobb intrudes on his neighbors
joie de vivre and it just frustrates you as a viewer.
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| Pictured, My Boy Scout leader; troop 88 |
The fantastic thing about Cobb and his ilk is they make is so easy to side against them. Otherwise we could get into discussions over whether flying a Nazi flag is actively aggressive and a threat. But Cobb flies about 6 of them at once on this property, which is so absurd and unnecessary you can't interpret it as an act of
psittacism.
Full disclosure I was familiar with the case going in. I read about it a couple months ago and honestly thought to myself "Hey! This would make a cool documentary." But I quickly pushed it out of my mind and moved on. Well as young Alex said (paraphrasing) 'it's funny how the images of real life are only really real when you see them on a screen.' These are real people who are living under the threat of deadly violence from a couple of sociopaths.
The shot above is what stood out in my mind at the end of the film. The burning of Cobb's condemned house is an outlet for all the frustration and anger. It's violent and yet civil at the same. The moment encapsulates the best of the American system as the good guys win, without resorting to the same means as the bad guys.
Recommended to watch with a group cause you will want to discuss the issues brought up by 'Welcome to Leith'.
