Popular reviews

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  Review by Sally Jane Black

  A somewhat crushing tale that blurs the lines of the documentary format openly, this could easily be titled Nina Conti Needs a Hug. I might be in love with her, too. Or Monkey. Or both.

  It's mind boggling how even though it's a documentary about ventriloquists, how it's utterly open about that side of things, you still feel for the puppets and find yourself thinking they're so very real.

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  Review by Lucy Alice 🌿 ★★★★½

  This is exactly what I needed tonight. 60 minutes of bewilderment I never thought I needed. 

  Wow, I'm truly blown away by the honesty & comforting warmth of Nina Conti. I don't think i've laughed and cried so much at something so unexpected, at something i've never really given any thought to.

  ANYTHING truly, can be an art form if you put your heart & soul into it. Own it, BECOME it. Heart, soul and.... voice box 💫

  I love documentaries.

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  Review by Jason Ioannou ★★★★½

  I signed up for puppets not a masterpiece but here we are.

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  Review by Matt J. 🇺🇦 ★★★★ 4

  Nina Conti is a treasure.

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  Review by Greg ★★★★½ 1

  I cried over a puppet granny wth is wrong with me

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  Review by 𝖥𝗋𝖺𝗇𝗄𝗂𝖾, 𝖬𝗋. 𝖲𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗄𝗅𝗒 ★★★★★

  Simulteanously distressing and affirming; I haven't wept this much in a while.

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  Review by mook ★★★ 5

  Nina Conti - A Ventriloquist's Story: Her Master's Voice (2012).

  An eccentric semi-documentary following British ventriloquist Nina Conti as she travels to a convention in Kentucky as a tribute to her recently deceased mentor.

  There is a lot of interesting ideas here - the relationship with her mentor (Theatre legend Ken Campbell) when she was 26 and he was 59; the meta concept of interviewing herself via her own characters; a study of the art form; the different approaches via the other guests at the convention; the Vent Haven Museum which houses hundreds of retired dummies - but frustratingly none are fully explored.

  In the end we are left with a slight but watchable documentary but with a too narrow/personal story. 6/10.

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  Review by Dina ▪️🔹 ★★★★★

  Jeff Dunham left me permanently cringing when I read "ventriloquist", but I'm so glad I watched this.

  She's British, actually funny & not racist. It was heartwarming, interesting (I wish I could throw my voice) and only 60 minutes.

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  Review by Mark Cunliffe 🇵🇸 ★★★½ 1

  Firstly thanks to Mook for tipping me off that this documentary - one I've been meaning to catch up with for some time - actually aired on BBC4 this week. I'd have missed it completely if it wasn't for his review, so thanks.

  Secondly, I should start by saying I'm a fan of Nina Conti and her act. To put that into context, I'll copy and paste my previous review for her live stand up Talk To The Hand here;

  'Tom's daughter consistently does the impossible; reminds us that the humble vent act, when done right, can not only be a thing of joy and entertainment and very funny but can also be wonderfully subversive and irreverent too. Needless to…

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  Review by maddy_burgess ★★★★

  Such a precious thing. Totally charming with unexpectedly haunting moments. A really personal insight into a lovely niche part of the world. Wonderful from beginning to end.

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  Review by AI generated account ★★★½

  There are 2 layers to this documentary, the 1st being an earnest ode to the often disrespected art of ventriloquism and an ode to Nina's fallen mentor Ken Campbell's passion for his artistry and what kept her going, the film also works on the level Nina getting her groove back of sorts after the shock of Ken's death leaves her tired of ventriloquism and going on this retreat to a ventriloquism convention and rekindling her love for puppets and her artistry. The film succeeds fully in selling questioning audience members who might not have taken the form seriously in the past by showcasing its most talented and passionate creators and giving multiple sequences to "how the fuck did they just…

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  Review by Tom!! 🚀 ★★★★

  British ventriloquist Nina Conti directs this snappy yet effective documentary about the art of ventriloquism and where puppets go where their master dies.

  Conti was a student of British theatre legend Ken Campbell, the film follows Nina as she goes to Venthaven to honour Ken’s puppets after he passes. On the way she stops at a ventriloquist convention to chat to ventriloquists about their art and where their passion arose. In the midst of this Nina learns to mourn her mentor, but also mourn her career as Ventriloquism seems to be on the decline in the UK, is it something she wants to pursue?

  There’s a lot of ideas in this and stories to tell, with its short running time,…