Mike Figgis’s Megadoc follows along the creative process and conflicting emotions behind the scenes of Francis Ford Coppola’s infamous Megalopolis, which opened a year ago, sparking fierce debates among cinephiles and even went viral on TikTok with Gen Z. The documentary was on my radar during the Telluride Film Festival and its Backlot programming, a special section of the library that showcases movies with a cinematic theme. Early in the film, Coppola revealed the conflicting emotions of investing his own money in a project that could be a commercial failure, but he was determined to complete the film. (“But who cares if you die broke if you made something that you think is beautiful?” Coppola quips toward the beginning stages of the creative endeavor.)
Throughout the runtime, we see select members of his cast, including Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, and Jon Voight, on camera and discussing their contribution to the movie. LaBeouf understood the assignment vibes during some scenes, particularly when he looked directly at the camera and walked around. Overall, Megadoc is rather observant in a cinema verité sort of way. The nitty-gritty details of the movie-making process are on full display as the actors reflect on FFC’s life and career.
See Also: ‘Megalopolis’ Review: From The Heart, For The Future
One observational moment that I found particularly revealing comes when Coppola, sitting almost monk-like in quiet reflection, says, “Movie making is not work, it is play, toil gives you nothing, play gives you everything.” It seems to be the leading hypothesis for both his career and this documentary. Figgis captures the paradox of a filmmaker who has risked his fortune and reputation, yet still approaches the camera with a childlike sense of discovery, making cinema worth pursuing. True creativity originates from a sense of wonder, which makes a lot of sense when you watch Megalopolis.
Another moment that stuck with me was when Mike Figgis acknowledged the intuitive nature of documenting an artist in his element at work: “The camera that’s recording you for the film and the camera that’s recording your relationship with the camera…I understand it and respect his space.” The result is a nuanced, multi-layered portrait of a legendary director, who is thrust against the tension between the creative process and conventional filmmaking, as well as the act of documenting art itself. It is quite something to behold.
Megadoc is now playing in limited release.
