Spellbound 92
I saw this one quite a while ago, down at the Austin Film Festival. It's easily one of the best documentaries I've seen, right up there with "Lost in Paradise: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills" and, hey, as of this week, "Bowling for Columbine."

Totally different subject matter here, obviously. It follows eight kids on their journey to the National Spelling Bee. If you've ever been sucked in by this on ESPN, you know just how captivating it can be. The movie's much more, too — by the end, you're loving all the kids, and totally embracing your inner nerd. Well, not all of the kids. I could've done without a couple of 'em, but what're you gonna do? The breadth did provide a glimpse into the parents' motives and training techniques. And in fact, there's an undercurrent of comparison to the baby beauty queen circuit. Rather apt, I'd say.

I've got loads of fondness for this one. Here's hoping it finds an audience outside of the festival circuit.