The 2024 NFR Inductees
Excuse the delay, but it’s that time of year again. This past December the 2024 additions to the National Film Registry were announced. Here is my yearly roundup of selected titles that I would like to make any personal comments on:
Spy Kids (2001)
I have to say I'm a bit confused about this one. It’s both bewildering and exciting to see movies from my generation pop up on the National Film Registry. While it’s very strange to think I’ve lived long enough for films from my time to be considered “historical,” I can’t deny that many significant films have come out in the 33 years that I’ve been alive. I just wouldn’t have included Spy Kids in that category. While I remember enjoying Spy Kids when it was popular and I remember seeing it in theaters when I was in fifth grade, I would not have considered it significant enough for such a list. However, my cohorts and other NFR resources online have pointed out the important themes such as family and culture (Hispanic pieces and filmmakers are a highlight for this year’s additions) as well as the significance of director Robert Rodriguez. So for that I give it its due.
Annabelle’s Serpentine Dance (1895)
As a dancer, I must say that Loie Fuller and her fabric dance innovations have been hugely influential in the dance world especially for those of us who dance with “wings” and similar veiled props. I’ve dance with wings and veils many times myself. In this instance the dancer highlighted is Annabelle Moore, a dancer of the next generation following Fuller and the original Gibson Girl in the 1907 Ziegfeld Follies. In her Serpentine Dance film Annabelle brings to life the brilliant butterfly effect of veil dancing. If you have the pleasure of watching a colorized version of the film it’s like watching a living coloring book. According to Moore’s wikipedia page she lived a rather scandalous life and “it was said she introduced eroticism in film.” I think we all owe her a great deal of gratitude for that.
Dirty Dancing (1987)
What can I say? Dirty Dancing is a life long favorite of mine. I nominate it every year and now I’m thrilled I don’t have to anymore because it has finally been added to the NFR. A lovely example of a female lead film (written by Eleanor Bergstein and inspired by her life, and produced by Linda Gottlieb), directed by extremely talented and openly gay director Emile Ardolino (who sadly died of AIDS a few years later), a strong example about coming of age and finding confidence through dance (and sexuality), but perhaps most importantly a hidden message about the importance of safe abortion, women’s rights, and feminism. Because as Bergstein said “I believe in getting moral issues into movies that everybody will go to because they have love and pretty clothes and romance and a lot of sex and then maybe you’ll change somebody’s mind.” She’s right. When you hide something powerful in something pretty you can get away with a lot.
The Social Network (2010)
I remember being assigned to watch The Social Network in theaters as part of my first film class in college. It’s funny to think of this full circle moment as it gets added to the National Film Registry. Given the monstrous rise of social media in our society I see the significance in The Social Network’s illustration. Social media has taken over our lives in the past 20+ years and continues to have it’s ups and downs (I’m looking at you Tik Tok). And it’s not going anywhere, making The Social Network an early example of the beginning of online connection and what it really means to be alone.
