A good documentary is one that can pull you in even when it's about a topic that doesn't interest you. I went to the track to watch the ponies on one occasion and even that might give an inflated impression of how little I care about horse racing.
Although I've visited record shops, seen a production of "Rent" and watched minor league baseball on numerous trips to Louisville, I've never even thought about visiting Churchill Downs.
Yet, "The First Saturday in May," a documentary about the 2006 Kentucky Derby, by writers and directors Brad and John Hennegan, kept me in my seat for more than 90 minutes as it followed the trails of six trainers and their horses, jockeys, owners and other team members, as they pursued their dream of reaching the derby.
Among others, there is no-nonsense New York Frank Amonte; there is Michael Matz and his wunderkind thoroughbred Barbaro; there s Dale Romans, who built his career from nothing other than the dream of the derby; and there is Dan Hendricks, who despite an injury that rendered him paralyzed from the chest down, has continued to work as a successful trainer.
Then, of course, there are the horses, and the film is as much Barbaro's story as anyone else's.
There are lots of fast-paced racing shots, lots of scene-setting shots showing the grand carnival that is derby day in Louisville. But what really makes "First Saturday in May" an engaging film is that these trainers, these jockeys, these grooms are really just regular guys. They're not always overpaid, prima donna, 22-year-old baseball or basketball players. They're people with kids and families who work hard and still seem more focused on the glory of the game than the riches it can bring (that's perhaps of more interest to the owners).
When one trainer doesn't reach the Derby, we feel for him. When another clinches a spot at the gate, we celebrate with him because we've seen what it's taken for him to get there.
While "First Saturday in May" is ostensibly about horse racing and the Kentucky Derby, it succeeds because underneath, it's a story of humanity (and equinity, if that's a word!).
Best of all, the filmmakers understand the pressures that racing puts on horses and donate a portion of the proceeds from the film to the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, which funds equine research.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
