SXSW 2022: To clean Review

Drawing on her own traumatic life experiences, Sandra Pankhurst and the services she provides with Melbourne Trauma Cleansing Services are an example of empathy and essential support systems to help people move on. forward despite the pain. Lachlan McLeod’s To clean presents the ins and outs of trauma cleansing – the act of cleaning up murders, suicides, hoarding situations and other tasks that many would shirk responsibility for – and in the process uncovers people who see their mark specific cleaning as more than just storage.

Anchored by the presence of Sandra Pankhurst, founder of Specialized Trauma Cleaning Services in Melbourne, Australia, To clean has a solid base to build on. A transgender woman whose own past has given her the ability to offer help to others in a unique way, Pankhurst centers McLeod’s documentary and delves into the empathy involved in clearing trauma as opposed to horrific situations. who sometimes require their services. It is through the group of people employed by Pankhurst’s company that McLeod discovers truly touching moments of humanity.

However, not all jobs that require trauma cleansers are strenuous. What works best is when the documentary follows the workers in some of their jobs that are more people-oriented, as they enter clean places that have become livable but remain sensitive to the whys and hows of people. see their house deteriorate. Hoarding situations are one thing, but watching trauma cleansers regularly visit those who simply lack the ability to maintain their living spaces provides insight into the necessity of the service. There is therapeutic power in what Trauma Cleansers do and this is evident in these interactions with people who need their services.

Pankhurst, who died in 2021, is the centerpiece of McLeod’s film. A vocal woman who has lived many lives and welcomed the spotlight as a way to share her experiences, she provides steady support for To clean to rest outside labeling for various cleaning jobs. McLeod provides light stylistic flourishes with dramatic recreations of periods of Pankhurst’s life juxtaposed with interviews and lectures as McLeod stays behind the scenes watching his physical health continue to deteriorate. It’s a subtle way to lend weight to an otherwise standard cinematic approach, depicting a woman who persevered to help make the world a better place.

If there are any defects with To clean it’s that it never really feels like the trips with the Trauma Cleansing Team (which make up a decent part of the movie) come together in a cohesive way with the plot around its founder. The momentum falters every time the film changes direction, largely because Sandra has taken time off from work due to her health. She’s the film’s centerpiece and where it finds its greatest strengths, but even with other employees sharing their feelings about trauma cleansing, it all feels slightly disjointed thematically without Sandra for the ride – something she used to do. all the time. The employees have a level of connection with the customers that shines through, but since the film rarely explains why they gravitate towards a job like this, it just doesn’t match Sandra’s candid nature.

To clean is an insightful look at how people help others overcome traumatic experiences. He doesn’t always dive below the surface, but his moments of genuine human connection and empathy demonstrate the power of support systems. McLeod wins gold with her followers alongside Sandra in the final years of her life, spotlighting a resilient woman who fought through hardship and used that experience to help others. An in-depth look at how trauma cleansing is more than just a service – it’s a step forward in treating pain.

South by Southwest celebrates the convergence of the interactive, film and music industries. Follow our coverage all month long!