The documentary film Veritas centers around a talented college wrestler named Jon Trenge, who hopes to one day become a national champion. However he faces two main obstacles - his torn retina which through continued wresting could cause blindness, and his lack of emotional control on the mat.
When watching the film, I noticed the use of available light throughout the entirety of the documentary. The interviews with Jon, his coach, teammates and family appeared to have been shot using whatever light illuminated the room. Therefore, the film’s lighting is not very flattering to those on camera, but gives a very gritty, realistic portrayal of each character. Inserted throughout the film are interviews with Jon’s coaches and family members. For these interviews, headroom and closure were utilize in filming each interviewees close-up. This created a completed visual that provided symmetrical imagery on screen.
Considering that most of the documentary footage is taken from video recordings of past matches, many scenes are shown from the gymnasium floor, so the vantage point does not reveal much perspective. As a result, some shots of matches appear to take place in small, enclosed locales when in actuality they are occurring in wide, open spaces. In one scene where Jon must win five of five matches to become a national champion wrestler, the vantage point has changed its perspective from the floor to the bleachers creating a realistic image of the setting's depth of field. Through this angle we can see onlookers, the entirety of the gym floor and all other matches.
With the grainy visuals and uncomplicated shooting angles, the story of Veritas is presented in an appropriate manner. Through its bare minimum kind of style, the viewer becomes engaged in the documentary as if they are in Jon’s home themselves, can feel the elation when Jon wins, and smell the sweat of the gym as he trains. We celebrate along with him as he successfully restrains his anger, and feel compassion towards him when he admits he would like to quit. This realistic presentation does a good job at connecting the viewer emotionally with Jon and all his obstacles.
What becomes apparent from the offset is the film's emphasis on the narrative and less on visual stylization. The overall message you take away from watching Veritas is that there will be no glitz and glamour of soft lighting or rack focus shots, but instead just one very inspiring story.
Considering that it sounds like the cinematography was not this film's strong point, it would be interesting to hear how you think the film works, or doesn't work, in other ways. Or was the grittiness beneficial to the documentary storytelling? Do you feel like you were emotionally invested in the film? Etc...
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