Winnebago Man

Winnebago Man

I trust the TIFF Bell Lightbox so much I went o see this film without any knowledge what it was about. I simply don’t know why there aren’t more people attending the outstanding films presented in this luxurious new facility. It has become my second home.

To my pleasant surprise I discovered this documentary film had won awards at 5 film festivals. It was the winner of the audience top 10 award at Hot Docs, 2009.

Jack Rebney made an industrial commercial for Winnebago. He is a blustery foul mouthed man. He was so crude that he became a comedic icon. Someone posted the commercial on U tube. Advertisers, producers and directors made copious copies and it became a coveted treasure to have a copy of this swearing cursing man.

Ben Steinbauer, a filmmaker, wanted to find Jack Rebney and make a documentary about the commercial and how Jack Rebney felt about it many years later. It was quite humorous to see the reaction when Ben showed the video to a date, his grandmother and to his film class.

Jack Rebney became known as the angriest man in the world.

Ben couldn’t locate Jack anywhere. Finally he was discovered living in a cabin in the middle of the woods at the top of a mountain in California. He lived alone with his dog. He was beginning to go blind and he did everything for himself. He wasn’t even aware of how famous he had become.

I think the audience was expecting the same blustery language from Jack when he was interviewed many years later. He seemed to like Ben and spent a lot of time with him being interviewed. He was calm and rational. We learn that at one time Jack was a highly paid journalist for a TV station. He left in frustration when the journalists began to analyze the news and make comments. He saw himself as a reporter of the news. He gave up his career for a principle. I cannot print the comment he made about Bush, Cheney and Rowe. They were all officials of the government when the film was made.

Jack did have one good friend, Keith He becomes part of the documentary telling us facts about Jack. We also see their positive interaction.

Jack’s condition deteriorated and he became disoriented. He became completely blind but continued to live in his cabin. He said,” Now I am crotchety and helpless.”

Ben continues to visit Jack and to film the episodes. Jack states that he always says what is on his mind and he takes pride in that.

I am not used to hearing so much offensive language. It just became funny. At the same time Jack does state that he felt humiliated when he saw his actions.

I was fascinated with the film because I met an interesting person I had never heard of. He was such a character and it was fascinating to see how a one time commercial became an icon. I also found it fascinating to see the kind of person he became,