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Filmmaker Matt Gallagher follows the seemingly indefatigable Marshall Sfalcin, a Windsor-based B movie-maker who decides to make a “serious” film about his family's history, specifically their involvement with a chain of restaurants called the Hi-Ho. (The franchise may be the first genuine fast food chain in North America.) Sfalcin's major claim to cinematic fame is something called Ten Dollar Tales, a low budget series of adventure and horror films, including knock-offs of The Exorcist and Frankenstein, all airing on the local cable channel. Most of the films are made with his combative partner-in-crime/older brother Christian, Marshall's lead performer, principal dubber, you name it. Unfortunately, his day job, other commitments, inability to get any professional performers (most notably former Windsorite Colm Feore, who's pretty much the only one he asks), plus the burden of telling his family's story begin to wear on Marshall. His uncles, who couldn't keep the once successful franchise going, aren't thrilled with the whole idea either. Moreover, Marshall and Christian fight even when they're agreeing with one another, and a year after the footage for the film is shot Marshall has stopped taking Matt's calls.
Funny and charming, The Rise and Fall of the Grumpy Burger may sound like a border town version of American Movie, but it's also an exploration of the interpersonal dynamics of a very singular family and the relationship between a documentary filmmaker and his subject. Marshall spends half the interview telling Matt what he's doing wrong, but his critique is driven by genuine affection rather than condescension. Marshall may have an ego but he's not unaware of what he's doing; he introduces his Italian sci-fi porno opus by saying, “Technically, this is a crappy movie,” then adds, “If my brother and I can
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