FilmSnobReviews

Title: Confessions of a Good Samaritan
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Director: Penny Lane
Starring: Penny Lane
Runtime: 1 hr 45 mins

What It Is: Documentarian Penny Lane decides that now is the time to become a “good Samaritan”. By this she intends to donate a kidney to a random stranger. We are privy to the entirety of her experience of finding out how to do this, what the process is and most importantly what her personal risks are. All along the way we get to see this fantastic documentarian go through it. A story on something not seen often. Trying to be a good person for the sake of it.

What We Think: Anytime Penny Lane wants to make a documentary we are here for it! My first exposure to her work was at Sundance 2019 with the incredibly good Hail Satan!. She never lets whatever her personal feelings and biases interfere with the story she’s telling in her docs. Even here in a highly personal setting she sticks to facts, data and the points her interviews give. I never feel guided by her. That’s really SUCH an amazing talent when directing real life. Even still her personal journey here is an emotional one. Lane turns her attention to the people who are real life superheroes in a way where you feel like she understands the what of what they did but we’re trying to figure out the why.

Our Grade: B, Everything here worked pretty well. Penny Lane continues to shine behind the lens but it’s her…in her rawness in front of the camera that is really endearing here. That really captures your attention. Whatever her next project is, and I personally can’t wait to see what it is, it’ll probably be a unique viewing experience and something that explores a topic we, as an audience never thought about. That’s sorta become Lane’s M.O. and it is working excellently.