“These documentaries can be satirical and mock their subjects and there is a lot of humour. Australian Director Constantine Costi has decided to show their humanity rather than ridicule them“
Con Nats
4 Spurtles
A spurtle is a short stirring stick that is used to stir porridge. You have to stir it clockwise otherwise the devil gets in. And The Golden Spurtle is the trophy that goes to the winner of the World Porridge Championships held in the Scottish Highlands town of Carrbridge every year which is the focus of this charming documentary.
Charlie Miller is the soon-to-retire organizer and at age 60, he seems to be one of the youngest involved. Charlie is a likeable chap, as is just about everyone you meet in this documentary. There is Lisa Williams, the defending champion, there’s Travis the Aussie, Nick the ambitious one, Ian Bishop, the returning champion and Toby, the young Pakistani Englander who seems totally out of place. There isn’t a hint of malice amongst them. Even Nick comes across as a little obsessive rather than an angry villain.
These documentaries can be satirical and mock their subjects and there is a lot of humour. Australian Director Constantine Costi has decided to show their humanity rather than ridicule them. Being Scottish, there’s enough natural humour in these people and they don’t take themselves or the competition too seriously.
It’s interesting that this is an Australian funded production about a Scottish event by a gent best known as an opera director. Cameraman Dimitri Zaunders has shot this in a clever and engaging way. There are long shots of people talking from a kitchen window, instead of lots of suffocating close-ups. He uses colourful backgrounds instead of black. Costi has gone for a light human approach rather than overplaying the drama, as there isn’t any, other than the heavy rain which causes the parade to be cancelled. (That would have been a treat.) He even has access to the judge’s deliberations which is interesting.
This is a pleasant little documentary. It didn’t make me want a bowl of the slop known as porridge but I would happily enjoy some warm Scottish hospitality.
4 Spurtles
Con Nats, On The Screen
