Bombay Beach (2011)

Nestled on the southern California coastline lies Bombay Beach, a community steeped in poverty, its residents dwelling on the margins of the Salton Sea. This man-made wonder, once a glorious oasis for the privileged, now languishes in the Colorado desert, its shimmering surface marred by a drift of deceased fish. Within this surreal landscape, filmmaker Alma Har'el weaves the narratives of three distinct individuals. Benny Parrish is a young boy grappling with bipolar disorder. His troubled spirit and fervent imagination are a source of both torment and delight, not just for himself but also for his intricate and affectionate family. Amid the decrepit beauty of Bombay Beach, teenager CeeJay Thompson seeks refuge. An aspiring football player, he hopes to evade the tragic destiny of his cousin, whose life was brutally cut short by gang violence in Los Angeles. Lastly, we meet Red, a whiskey-loving survivor, once an oil worker, now living out his twilight years in a haze of tobacco smoke and an indomitable zest for life. These three stories interlace into a compelling triptych of masculinity at different life stages, told through a mesmerizing style that probes the boundaries of reality and imagination. The question lingers: Are these individuals shaped by their environment, or are their worlds crafted from the fabric of their own imaginations? This film invites viewers to dive deep into the enigmatic world of Bombay Beach and explore this captivating paradox.

Bombay Beach is a documentary movie.

Bombay Beach is currently streaming on DocAlliance Films.

It is also possible to rent Bombay Beach on DocAlliance Films.