For a few years, a man living on the outskirts of Ontario, Canada, has been punching the clock at his manufacturing job at 10 p.m., suiting up in a familiar cowl, and patrolling the moonlit streets of the city. Now he wants you to know a bit more about the man behind the mask.
Being Batman is a peek inside the Batcave of a man who connects not only to the heroic persona, but also to the fragile boy in mourning that gave way to the crime fighter. It’s both a showcase of cool equipment (where does he get all those wonderful toys?) and of a bare soul who’s turned to aiding his community because of his own personal loss. Whereas Bruce Wayne became obsessed with the fearsome symbolism of the bat, the Canadian Dark Knight is in the meta pop culture position of becoming fixated on Bruce Wayne.
Being Batman from Lossless Creative on Vimeo.
The dedication on display–from the Ninjitsu to the collectibles to the no-BS Batmobile–is fascinating, but the most interesting thing about this mini-documentary from Lossless Creative is the blurred lines between cosplay and an honest-to-goodness good guy. The memorabilia screams fandom, but the Brampton Batman is clearly living a life beyond it, and quiet moments where he opens up about why he covers his home and takes to the streets in honor of a fictional character get us closer to stripping away all the rubber armor. From the dramatic music to the crisp photography, it’s clear that the documentary makers take him seriously.
Being Batman asks us to question what it takes to become a superhero. If this Canadian has the gear, the Ninja training, and the tragic past, how far off from the real (fictional) thing can he really be?
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Images: Lossless Creative
