Hot Docs Roundup: The Beetle

I understand, with absolute empathy, how difficult it is to part with a beloved, old car. An enamored owner believes signs of wear and functional deterioration are badges of character to admire. Maybe placing a towel over the driver's seat to catch leaky water drops when it rains isn't something the neighbours have to do, but so what? Some cars deserve infinite chances.

In The Beetle, Yishai Orian lays bare his love affair with a decaying, 40-year-old Volkswagen by documenting his attempt to infuse the car with renewed life. Along the way, he visits previous owners and discovers the Beetle has a surprisingly interesting history (celebritiy drivers, government cover-ups and more). None of this news is enough to convince his pregnant wife that the vehicle is safe or reliable. Despite her pleas to trash it, Orian grows increasingly desperate to restore it as the baby's birth nears. The salvage job is a literal pursuit but also representative of his desire to retain a sense of unencumbered individualism. Like many first time fathers, he isn't sure what to expect of the transition to parenthood and doesn't always know how to make decisions like a parent would. With humour and some sweetness, the film negotiates the space between youthful selfishness and the collegial outlook that having a family demands. For his trouble, Orian landed in the #7 spot on the list of audience favourites.