Serafima Serafimova
They say that good things come to those who wait. And whilst there are certain things you definitely don’t want to spend too long waiting for (buses, pregnancy tests, organ transplants, to name a few) the old adage often holds true when it comes to passion projects. It takes a special kind of person to work on something they’re not getting paid for, as well as a colossal amount of dedication, ambition and determination not to give up halfway through. But if these ingredients are all in place and time is allowed for the story to marinate and mature, something truly special can emerge, as was the case with The (Lost Found) Boy Man Bunny.
Directed by Daniel Ifans, The (Lost Found) Boy Man Bunny is a charming profile doc about a glittery, lycra-glad, Brighton-based street performer known as The Disco Bunny. But what you might expect to be a thinly conceived portrait of an eccentric social misfit is actually far from it. Ifans and cinematographer/editor Harry Osborne make no judgement on their subject’s dress sense or lifestyle choices, instead aiming directly for the heart with a tale of triumph over adversity and rising above societal expectations. Regardless of your personal feelings towards the self proclaimed nomad, The (Lost Found) Boy Man Bunny is an engrossing story that reminds its audience about the importance of having fun and loving the life we are living.
The Disco Bunny working his magic in all his lycra-clad glory.
Being a disco bunny isn’t easy. You don’t have a steady financial income or a permanent home. Instead, you live in a Disco Bunny Bus and ride a Disco Bunny Bike, travelling to various parts of the UK and spreading joy with your boombox and signature moves, to the dumbfounded people you come across. In return, you are often greeted with smiles and even a dance, but also racist remarks and verbal and physical abuse. This is the life of Pablo Woodward – once an orphan in Brazil who moved to England when he was adopted at the age of 10. In 2016, the 32 year old took the drastic decision to quit his job and the life he was living and start dancing in the street to “unite all people” and put a smile on their faces.
“He seemed to invoke a collective madness on the grey streets of Britain”
The idea for the documentary was born when Ifans and Osborne found themselves between jobs, with time to kill, and wanted to keep themselves busy by practising their craft. Just when they were on the lookout for a good story, The Disco Bunny walked into their world and presented an exciting opportunity for a unique subject of their film. “Watching him dance to his boombox, he seemed to invoke a collective madness on the grey streets of Britain – like some exotic alien from another planet with a magic off-switch for British reserve” – Ifans shared with S/W – “Thinking we’d capture not much more than a quick character vignette, it was just curiosity, and a way to practise our skills at first. We soon realised however, that we were onto something with much greater depth. That’s when it became interesting.”
Indeed, what starts off as a beautifully shot, colourful and fun-filled study of an oddball character, soon reveals deeper layers that touch upon identity, race and the true meaning of happiness. But at the heart of the story is Pablo’s complex relationship with his former life, the most significant ties to which are his adoptive parents and two children currently living with their mother in Australia. Ifans and Osborne filmed the street performer intermittently over the course of a year and it shows in the gentle bond that emerges as they thoughtfully draw out his life story while observing his extraordinary circumstances and character traits. What emerges is an illuminating and affecting depiction of what makes a fulfilling life. Because whether you love or hate The Disco Bunny and admire or condemn his choices, there’s no denying that living with the sole purpose of finding and spreading joy is something we can all aspire to.