Keith Maitland's "Tower" is a fascinating and powerful documentary that delves into the tragic mass shooting at the University of Texas campus in Austin on August 1, 1966. While mass shootings have unfortunately become commonplace today, this particular event was a groundbreaking moment in media history, being one of the first to be covered in real-time by the media.
Although the story of the "Tower shootings" has been previously covered on television, Maitland's take is refreshingly unique and original. The film expertly combines extensive real-time footage from that tragic day with rotoscopic animation, providing an up-close and personal view of the survivors' and law enforcement responders' experiences.
Maitland's use of rotoscopic animation is a stroke of genius, as it allows actors to portray the participants, and then the images are painted over with software to reenact the events. This creative technique brings a more emotional and complete picture of the tragedy, surpassing the traditional approach of a standard documentary.
One of the central figures in the film is Claire Wilson, an 18-year-old student who, along with her boyfriend, was among the first to be shot by the diabolical shooter, Charles Whitman. The film recounts the horrifying hour and a half Wilson spent lying on the pavement, wounded and pregnant, while another brave student risked her life to comfort her until additional heroes arrived to drag her to safety.
The documentary provides the perspectives of key eyewitnesses, including a TV reporter reporting the events as they unfolded, police officers, and a civilian who bravely climbed the tower to confront the shooter. Maitland wisely focuses on the survivors' stories, avoiding glorification of the gunman.
"Tower" effectively sheds light on a tragic event that the University of Texas was reluctant to discuss for many years. It becomes a significant platform for the survivors to finally express their emotions, often suppressed for decades.
The seamless blend of documentary footage, modern-day interviews, and rotoscopic animation gives "Tower" a dream-like quality, adding to the overall impact of the film. The gripping tale will leave audiences speechless, offering an emotional and thought-provoking experience.
"Tower" is a must-watch documentary that skillfully brings to life the harrowing events of the 1966 University of Texas shooting. Maitland's unique approach and the survivors' poignant stories make this film a haunting and unforgettable exploration of a tragic chapter in history.
Although the story of the "Tower shootings" has been previously covered on television, Maitland's take is refreshingly unique and original. The film expertly combines extensive real-time footage from that tragic day with rotoscopic animation, providing an up-close and personal view of the survivors' and law enforcement responders' experiences.
Maitland's use of rotoscopic animation is a stroke of genius, as it allows actors to portray the participants, and then the images are painted over with software to reenact the events. This creative technique brings a more emotional and complete picture of the tragedy, surpassing the traditional approach of a standard documentary.
One of the central figures in the film is Claire Wilson, an 18-year-old student who, along with her boyfriend, was among the first to be shot by the diabolical shooter, Charles Whitman. The film recounts the horrifying hour and a half Wilson spent lying on the pavement, wounded and pregnant, while another brave student risked her life to comfort her until additional heroes arrived to drag her to safety.
The documentary provides the perspectives of key eyewitnesses, including a TV reporter reporting the events as they unfolded, police officers, and a civilian who bravely climbed the tower to confront the shooter. Maitland wisely focuses on the survivors' stories, avoiding glorification of the gunman.
"Tower" effectively sheds light on a tragic event that the University of Texas was reluctant to discuss for many years. It becomes a significant platform for the survivors to finally express their emotions, often suppressed for decades.
The seamless blend of documentary footage, modern-day interviews, and rotoscopic animation gives "Tower" a dream-like quality, adding to the overall impact of the film. The gripping tale will leave audiences speechless, offering an emotional and thought-provoking experience.
"Tower" is a must-watch documentary that skillfully brings to life the harrowing events of the 1966 University of Texas shooting. Maitland's unique approach and the survivors' poignant stories make this film a haunting and unforgettable exploration of a tragic chapter in history.