There is so much going on in "University, Inc." that it's hard to believe it's running time is under an hour. Filmmaker Kyle Henry, with help from quite a few Austinites, makes a powerful and bold film about activism regarding the dismantling of the film program at the University of Texas in 1997. But it's much more than that. It's a film about the history of college activism, the history of UT, and the privatization of facilities at UT and other universities. It's a film about Austin and UT. It's about the beauty and history of the Austin. It's about a young man reaching out to his past, and his family, to understand his place in the world in the present. It's about student life. And music. And film. And guerilla journalism. And the death of investigative journalism. And I'm sure it's about even more than that.

When Henry shows the film and does a Q&A afterward, the floor opens up to a variety of questions about facts and statistics. People ask probing and intelligent questions about the subject matter of the film. This movie empowers people, young and old. It motivates and energizes them. It speaks to them. It's quite beautiful to see. Henry, after a screening is surrounded by those who want to know more. Who have questions and issues of their own. And he seems more than willing to spend the time necessary to talk to anyone who wants to talk to him. It is film equaling action. It sparks conversation and questions and thought and discussion. It single-handedly proves what a powerful and provocative medium film is. And I'm sure it does even more than this.

From a filmmaking standpoint, Henry's work is beautiful. Every moment is perfect. The opening, which uses film leader to introduce the importance of film to the piece, is perfect. The sound design of the film is so profound and beautiful that mere words cannot describe it. Henry, and his team, edit the film and the sound of the film with the beautiful and delicate precision of a surgeon. There is not a flaw to be found. There are 8mm segments obviously created by Luke Savisky that sparkle with beautiful luster. There are moments in the film that are pure Michael Moore, guerilla interviewing at it's finest. There are interviews with peers done on camcorder. There are segments transferred from taped TV broadcasts. There are old 60's industrial and educational films used to provoke thought and humorously prove points. There are text messages and quotes which pop up between ideas, punctuating them. And I'm sure there is even more than this.

Henry uses every medium and tool at his disposal to create his film and tell his story. But more than that, the sound is used in conjunction with this in seemingly new and inventive ways. At times the film's soundtrack seems like a flawless trance album, an acid trip of sound. Audibly it's a masterpiece. Seemingly unprecedented. Henry uses phone conversations, taped monologues and narrative devices to accent his images and present his themes and ideas. But almost always there is wonderful music, fueling the film and propelling it to it's next thought.

"University, Inc." is an cynical, angry and bitter film. But it's equally a funny and hopeful film. Vibrant and brimming with life and wide-eyed wonder, the film is a wake-up call to people of all ages. It's power is amazing. It demands that you think and discover and act upon ideas. It's not afraid to extrapolate facts and, yes I'll say it, distort the truth a bit, because it sees distortion of truth all around it. It fights propaganda with propaganda, to a certain degree. As much as I believe documentaries should be unbiased, I love this film. It's isn't so much a documentary as an abstract investigative report. It's bubbling with facts and figures and ideas and conspiracy theories. It's the kind of film that could only be made by a young person.

As for the older folks at UT... Well, watching Henry try desperately to gain access to them for interviews and comments provides much of the film's comic relief.

The most wondrous and poignant questions posed by the film are these: What is an education for? What is college for? What are we sending our American youth into and what do we want them to come out as? Is college "job training?" Or is it a time when young people should open their minds to new ideas, new thoughts, new experiences, new modes of expression? How you answer these questions is how you will see the film.

Me? I think they should give a copy of "University, Inc." to every kid at every college orientation every fall.

Note:

The film contains brief interview segments with Richard Linklater, Harry Knowles and his father Jay. Henry's mother is also interviewed by phone briefly for the film. Several UT "big wigs" are recalled, interviewed and stalked.

Jeanette Kasam, who did some exceptional acting work in a short film I saw at Cinematexas last fall also did some behind-the-scenes work on the film.

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