One Buccaneer

Directed by Jerry Greiner, Paul Hunt, Julie Kauffman, 2006
Cast: Robert, Mary Lou and Bob Brock

By Alyce Wilson

One Buccaneer in an independent film directed by Jerry Greiner, Paul Hunt and Julie Kauffman of 3358 Films. The film is a documentary about the family-owned Hole in the Wall Puppet Theater in Lancaster. It follows the process of adapting the book Treasure Island to a one-man, nine-puppet production.

The movie starts out with master puppeteer, Robert Brock, demonstrating how he makes a puppet. Then the piece of wood goes flying off the sander, and he curses and picks it up. Immediately, you know it's not going to be a typically dry documentary.

Sure enough, the film is as much about the family behind the theater as about the production of the show itself. Every member of the family is interesting on screen, from the cheery, gregarious Robert to his soft-spoken Episcopalian deacon mother, Mary Lou, who handles all the business details. And then there's his outspoken, opinionated, funny father, Bob. The interactions between them are a joy to watch.

The family environment is one of good-natured ribbing, so that as the camera follows the behind-the-scenes process, it also documents the essential elements of this family: loving support, good-natured humor and perseverance.

In a number of on-camera interviews, Bob talks about his son. In one breath, he'll be critical about him: such as the fact that Robert is a dreamer with no head for practical matters. Yet, he's also supportive and clearly loves his son.

Later, he reveals that Robert almost died as a young boy due to a neurological condition. A picture of a sweet-faced young Robert appears on screen, as Bob gets a choked up. "He's a good man," he says. What a beautiful but natural depiction of a father's love.

For the most part, the documentary flowed really well, with editing used to underscore the verbal humor of the family's teasing. The only part I'd question is the choice to string together the documentary with sections of Robert reading the script for the play, in character as the nine different puppets. While it's impressive to listen to how he makes all the voices distinctive, it's hard to keep track of the action in the play without the visual aid of the puppets. After awhile, these portions just seem to distract from the more entertaining behind-the-scenes interactions between Robert's family and the other puppet theater volunteers.

The movie is gentle and uplifting, an inspirational story about family love and following your dreams.