"Ren Faire," a three-part new HBO documentary series, takes viewers into the Texas Renaissance Festival, with a focus on its 86-year-old eccentric founder George Coulam.
One of the largest fairs in the United States, the festival attracts over half a million attendees annually and employs over 1,000 people on a 55-acre site near Houston.
It was founded in 1974 by Coulam, who has built it from a small 15-acre land into a thriving enterprise, and is now in his twilight years, seeking a successor to lead the festival. His employees call him "King George."
Coulam, the festival's founder, has faced controversies and speculations, including accusations of soliciting romantic relationships from employees and settling a sexism lawsuit, but is also respected and known for his philanthropic work and community service.
Lance Oppenheim directed the series, revolving around the festival and its employees vying to succeed Coulam. They showcase their personalities and ambitions, likened to "Succession meets Tiger King" without judgment towards the characters.
Oppenheim's filmmaking style is likened to a maximalist Errol Morris, with his films focusing on eccentrics and oddballs without gawking at them, featuring oversaturated colors, hallucinatory shifts, and reenactments blurring reality and fiction.
At 28, Oppenheim has an impressive portfolio of short films and documentaries, including a recent project on sperm donors.
Sources: The Los Angeles Times, List23, The Cinemaholic, ComingSoon, Reality Blurred, The Daily Beast, The New York Times, News 24, Variety, Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.
