Could You Live Off Craigslist for 31 Days?
When viewing a trailer for an upcoming documentary for the first time, nine times out of ten, you know from the start if it’s worth investing time in. Does the story’s message pull at your soul? Does the documentary cover a topic you’re emotionally invested in? Or does the film resemble every other documentary? These are the questions that run through every viewers’ mind.
With an intriguing title and a premise resembling that of popular documentaries such as Super Size Me and The Human Experience — two films that document the struggles and trials of their main characters as they undergo some type of social/physical change — the Zach Galifianakis produced film, Craigslist Joe, aims to shed light on our current world, through the popular online community site, Craigslist.
Galifianakis and producer/director Joseph Garner (The Hangover II and Due Date) switch roles as Garner leaves everything behind to live off the classified site for 31 days. Along the way Garner makes new friends and long-lasting relationships with those who were at one time strangers. The trailer shows Garner at his worst as he battles the weather and hunger, but through the kindness and generosity of several helpful people, Garner is able to move past his ailments and onto better times.
I’m a sucker for documentaries such as this one. Sure, the premise isn’t anything new. We’ve seen the struggling MC, who once had everything, give it all up to walk in someone else’s shoes. So what makes this film different than all the others? Well, that’s what Galifianakis and Garner have to deliver. Whether this documentary strikes a chord or not depends on how well the men shape, edit, and tell the story. One thing’s for sure, they’ve got a lot of people talking.
Check out the synopsis and trailer below and be sure to let us know what you think about the film. Documentary lovers, is this something you’d be interested in seeing?
’Craigslist Joe’ Movie Trailer
In a time when America’s economy and sense of community were crumbling, one guy left everything behind–to see if he could survive solely on the support of the 21st century’s new town square: Craigslist. It was in this climate that 29-year-old Joseph Garner cut himself off from everyone he knew and everything he owned, to embark on a bold adventure. Armed with only a laptop, cell phone, toothbrush, and the clothes on his back–alongside the hope that community was not gone but just had shifted–Joseph began his journey. For 31 December days and nights, everything in his life would come from the Craigslist website. From transportation to food, from shelter to companionship, Joe would depend on the generosity of people who had never seen him and whose sole connection to him was a giant virtual swap meet. Would America help Joe? Could he survive with nothing, apart from the goodwill of others?
