There’s a touching little article at CaliforniaChronicle.com that ran on August 24, 2009. It concerns a poor little hamlet in Serbia where the town folk decided to erect a statue of Rocky Balboa in tribute to the ultimate underdog.
Film maker Barry Avrich went to the village and planned to make a “Borat”-style documentary making fun of the whole thing. However, once he arrived he was moved by how sincere the villagers were. The statue was made of cement because they couldn’t afford bronze. Avrich’s film took a whole new direction. He was even able to interview Sylvester Stallone who in turn was so moved by the villagers that he taped a special message that played for the huge crowds that turned out during the three day celebration leading up to the unveiling of the statue. Barry Avrich’s documentary, “American Idol” is now on the festival circuit and has qualified for the Oscars.
To read the full article, click here.