David Farrier can't seem to stay away from the disturbing. The New Zealand journalist and documentarian is perhaps best known outside his home country for Tickled, a film that uncovered the alarming and certifiably creepy reality behind "competitive endurance tickling." This time, in his latest film, Mister Organ, what started with a car clamping scheme outside an antique store in a well-to-do Auckland suburb devolves into an investigation of Michael Organ, a seedy and mystifying character.
It all began when a TV3 colleague of Farrier's recounted how her car had been hitched to a tow truck outside Bashford Antiques where a surly tow truck driver berated her and demanded $250 in cash to release the vehicle. Three years later, the same television station ran a piece about a driver who parked in one of the store's four parking spots when the shop was closed, only to return and find their car clamped by a company called Premier Clamping Services. In a similar experience to his colleague, Premier Clamping Services demanded this driver pay a penalty of $220 in cash immediately. (It's important to note that two of the parking spaces displayed a "No Parking" sign and the other two didn't; this particular driver parked in one of the latter spots.)
Farrier's interest in this story wasn't the act of clamping itself. The practice, while sharp, is perfectly legal; the small parking lot was located on private property and so, unbeknownst to drivers, they were technically trespassing. Farrier, instead, was intrigued by Premier Clamping Services.
The TV3 consumer piece stated that their reporters found that the company wasn't registered with New Zealand's Companies Office, and the telephone number displayed on the clamping sign led to no one. Bashford Antiques denied any connection with the clamping company, although they were caught placing traffic cones on neighbouring business' parking spots. Farrier got in contact with those who had been victims of this hustle via Facebook and soon found himself going down a rabbit hole.
At the centre of this story is Michael Organ, who had been recorded on camera during a clamping incident. Organ is a man who claims royal lineage and title, was jailed for stealing a yacht, and, as Farrier discovers, is a pathological liar with a knack for driving those around him into madness.
In Mister Organ, we accompany Farrier as he forms a relationship with Organ in an attempt to understand him. Farrier also tracks down former roommates, family members and acquaintances, many of whom are reluctant to speak to Farrier on the record for fear of what Organ might do to them. Through these conversations, it's clear to Farrier (and us) that Organ's annoying presence can result in real psychological (and in some cases physical) damage.
Similar to Tickled, Farrier's charisma shapes Mister Organ with a great deal of comedy that belies the disturbing behaviour behind his subjects. It's only when Farrier reaches a breaking point in the middle of Mister Organ that it becomes clear the effect Organ can have on a person.
During a Q&A with Farrier after the screening of Mister Organ at the Calgary Underground Film Festival, the director estimates that the longest phone call he had with Organ was probably around the six hours, with Farrier contributing little to the conversation. Clips in the film show Organ's ability to speak in lengthy circles, offering up a lot of words that amount to very little. When a coherent thought does emerge, it's often a lie.
What makes Organ such a sinister individual isn't the scams he pulls; it's his ability to gaslight and impress upon others that the reality he has created for himself is true, even when it is patently false. Farrier likened Organ with Donald Trump — a person resolutely emphatic that just because they say something to be true, it is.
Comparing Organ to David D'Amato, the person of primary interest in Tickled, is a fascinating exercise. Where D'Amato's inclinations are obviously unsettling, Organ appears harmless on the surface. He's the type of person who gets under the skin and stays there like a splinter that's impossible to dig out.
Prior to the development of Mister Organ, The Spinoff ran a six-part article series of Farrier's findings. Those articles have translated into a documentary that is at once assuredly entertaining, compelling and frightening. A study in everyday sociopathy, Mister Organ shines a light on the worst that humanity has to offer while also giving us the opportunity to respond to people like Organ in the only appropriate manner: laughing in disbelief at their shortcomings.
The Calgary Underground Film Festivals runs from April 20 to 30, 2023. Get ticket information at the festival's website.
(Madman Entertainment)It all began when a TV3 colleague of Farrier's recounted how her car had been hitched to a tow truck outside Bashford Antiques where a surly tow truck driver berated her and demanded $250 in cash to release the vehicle. Three years later, the same television station ran a piece about a driver who parked in one of the store's four parking spots when the shop was closed, only to return and find their car clamped by a company called Premier Clamping Services. In a similar experience to his colleague, Premier Clamping Services demanded this driver pay a penalty of $220 in cash immediately. (It's important to note that two of the parking spaces displayed a "No Parking" sign and the other two didn't; this particular driver parked in one of the latter spots.)
Farrier's interest in this story wasn't the act of clamping itself. The practice, while sharp, is perfectly legal; the small parking lot was located on private property and so, unbeknownst to drivers, they were technically trespassing. Farrier, instead, was intrigued by Premier Clamping Services.
The TV3 consumer piece stated that their reporters found that the company wasn't registered with New Zealand's Companies Office, and the telephone number displayed on the clamping sign led to no one. Bashford Antiques denied any connection with the clamping company, although they were caught placing traffic cones on neighbouring business' parking spots. Farrier got in contact with those who had been victims of this hustle via Facebook and soon found himself going down a rabbit hole.
At the centre of this story is Michael Organ, who had been recorded on camera during a clamping incident. Organ is a man who claims royal lineage and title, was jailed for stealing a yacht, and, as Farrier discovers, is a pathological liar with a knack for driving those around him into madness.
In Mister Organ, we accompany Farrier as he forms a relationship with Organ in an attempt to understand him. Farrier also tracks down former roommates, family members and acquaintances, many of whom are reluctant to speak to Farrier on the record for fear of what Organ might do to them. Through these conversations, it's clear to Farrier (and us) that Organ's annoying presence can result in real psychological (and in some cases physical) damage.
Similar to Tickled, Farrier's charisma shapes Mister Organ with a great deal of comedy that belies the disturbing behaviour behind his subjects. It's only when Farrier reaches a breaking point in the middle of Mister Organ that it becomes clear the effect Organ can have on a person.
During a Q&A with Farrier after the screening of Mister Organ at the Calgary Underground Film Festival, the director estimates that the longest phone call he had with Organ was probably around the six hours, with Farrier contributing little to the conversation. Clips in the film show Organ's ability to speak in lengthy circles, offering up a lot of words that amount to very little. When a coherent thought does emerge, it's often a lie.
What makes Organ such a sinister individual isn't the scams he pulls; it's his ability to gaslight and impress upon others that the reality he has created for himself is true, even when it is patently false. Farrier likened Organ with Donald Trump — a person resolutely emphatic that just because they say something to be true, it is.
Comparing Organ to David D'Amato, the person of primary interest in Tickled, is a fascinating exercise. Where D'Amato's inclinations are obviously unsettling, Organ appears harmless on the surface. He's the type of person who gets under the skin and stays there like a splinter that's impossible to dig out.
Prior to the development of Mister Organ, The Spinoff ran a six-part article series of Farrier's findings. Those articles have translated into a documentary that is at once assuredly entertaining, compelling and frightening. A study in everyday sociopathy, Mister Organ shines a light on the worst that humanity has to offer while also giving us the opportunity to respond to people like Organ in the only appropriate manner: laughing in disbelief at their shortcomings.
The Calgary Underground Film Festivals runs from April 20 to 30, 2023. Get ticket information at the festival's website.
