Title: Lemon
Director: Laura Brownson, Beth Levinson
What happens when your star has fallen? Stardom can be a blessing and I feel most people would relish the moment of getting recognition for their work, monetary compensation for said work and most importantly, being the best of the best. But when all of that goes away, what do you have left? In the new documentary, “Lemon” examines that very question. And following the subject Lemon Andersen, the three things he has left is family, ambition and talent.
In the early 2000s, Lemon Andersen was one of the breakout stars of Russell Simmons’ “Def Poetry Jam”. A TV series that highlighted the extraordinary talent of street poets from all-around the world. Lemon’s poems were heartfelt, raw and passionate, which is reflected in the man himself as well. “Def Poetry Jam” was a big success for Russell Simmons and Lemon Andersen, alike and in 2003, they won a TONY Award for Best Special Theatrical Event. The original company went on a nation and international tour, performing their styles of wordplay and truth. This gave Lemon accolades, respect and money but when the spotlight went away so did the money. Lemon resorted to crime and was imprisoned and spent most of the latter half of the decade getting his career back on track while struggling to “stay above water” and raise his family.
At the start of the documentary, we see glimpses of Lemon’s brilliance with words and performance, which is apparent due to his charm and persona but we soon learn that is all Lemon has going for himself. He lives with his wife and his two daughters in wife’s parents cramped Brooklyn apartment, along with his brother-in-law’s family. Lemon and his family are living below the poverty line after years of critical and financial success. The question remains what happened. The documentary isn’t too clear with what happened. How did Lemon lose all of his money? Why was Lemon a criminal? And why did the Broadway show close? We can only assume, which is a dangerous thing to do in documentary filmmaking.
The documentary gives a clear impression of Lemon’s past. Growing up in a rough neighborhood in Brooklyn in the early 90s, during a time of crime and drugs. Lemon sought refuge in the streets, living in a single mother home with a brother from another father, Lemon didn’t know his father as well. Soon the film comes to grips with his mother’s contraction of HIV then eventual death. Lemon deals with this tragedy as a young man, alienated by his family in New York and Puerto Rico. The film does a fine job conveying this alienation with his family, while shaping the character of Lemon Andersen. But it almost services it to no end, due to the incongruity with Lemon’s life between his childhood and adolescence; and Lemon’s mission after losing all of the money he earned on Broadway.
Lemon’s ambition and work ethic is what to takeaway from this documentary. We do get this clear sense of talent when we first meet Lemon as he tries to find funding for his one man show, while he was developing it with The American Place Theatre. What is interesting is when Lemon decides to take it to another, more prestigious theater, The Public Theater. This conflict is the thrust of most of the drama in “Lemon,” and a lot of it is placed in sticky situations when relationships become frayed. But when Lemon’s one man show “County of Kings” doesn’t generate the kind of buzz and critical reception that would garner more funding, Lemon is force to leave the theater.
Through these struggles Lemon’s only source of support his from his loving wife, Marilyn, and daughters, Heaven and Shine. This kind of support cannot be measured but shown and at points of the film, it feels like the marriage is suffering because of Lemon’s ambition and drive. But we soon learn, it’s Lemon’s family life that keeps him ambitious and driven.
“Lemon” is a wonderful documentary of a man who is both a failure and a success. We should learn as an audience that these two things are integral and are more related in life and not separate and really do not serve well as a measuring stick of a man. There is a lot to gain from this film and it is completely worth watching.
Technical: C+
Story: B
Overall: B-
“Lemon” is screening as part of the 2nd DOC NYC Film Festival:
NYU Eisner on Nov 4th
IFC Center in New York City on Nov 9th
by @Rudie_Obias
