Imagine a film about an article of apparel. Who would dare make a film
about a single category of attire? And what inanimate thing that people
wear can carry an entire documentary? Well, the answers are Andee Kinzy
and hats. Yes, hats. Hats matter and have always mattered. The power and
influence of hats is well documented (see the BOOKS ON HATS
bibliography at VillageHatShop.com). Anyone who thinks about this for a
minute will realize its truth. Whether acting as protection from the
elements or as a measure of rank or religious devotion, hats have always
played a major role in human history and culture. But Kinzy's film,
What Is It About Hats, is not so much about what Christian Dior alleged,
"Without hats there would be no civilization" but rather novelist
Margaret Atwood's sentiment, "I myself have twelve hats, and each one
represents a different personality. Why be just yourself?" Subtitled A
Documentary About the People Under the Brim this work addresses a most
compelling quality of headwear - its ability to transform the individual
wearer. Hats can and do uplift one's spirit. Hats can and do change or
express one's mood. One can either hide in a hat or call more attention
to oneself. This film is at its best when these themes are being
explored. When hat devotees in the film say things like, "I think if we
wore more hats we would not have as much Prozac", or "Hats are a
wonderful thing for shy people", they are not being factious. We may at
first chuckle when we hear comments like these, but it's the realization
that there may be something here worth seriously considering - bona
fide psychology - that gives the film its legs. In future efforts, I'd
like to see Kinzy delve deeper into the transforming qualities of hats.
When the movie switches to "How to Shop For Hats" or "How to Wear Hats"
it left me wanting more of this thought provoking substance. But don't
let that deter you from seeing this film. What Is It About Hats tackles a
unique theme; and it is filled with interesting hats and entertaining
hat stories. If you are a hat lover, a costume or cultural historian, a
psychologist, a shopper, a sculptor, or a documentary film aficionado,
this film is for you. I eagerly await more films that explore this heady
issue.
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