Being Batman is a documentary that looks at the life of Stephen Lawrence—a man who has self monikered himself the “Brampton Batman.” Via Short of the Week:
Lawrence, dressed as the iconic hero, ventures out at night to patrol the city streets. He’s a real-life Bruce Wayne, complete with an outfit and arsenal that would make any cosplayer green with envy.
But, this story is more than just a quirky tale of a man who dresses up like a pop culture icon. On this site, we’ve often discussed our exhaustion with the “profile documentary” format. But, sometimes, a subject is so *ahem* batsh-it, it sort of makes the whole thing feel fresh again. Through stunning visuals and an impressive musical score, Freeman explores what makes this real masked vigilante tick, delving into his subject’s psyche. We watch as Lawrence pontificates about his own personal experiences and desires, touching on topics as varied as one’s identity to reflecting on moments of personal loss.
While there is obviously something inherently cool about seeing a fully decked out Batman roam the streets (the kind of thing to show up repeatedly in your Facebook timeline), there is also a darkness that underlies everything—and we’re not just talking about Lawrence’s costume.