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  • Paparon (2016)
  • Short | 24 min | Documentary, Short, Biography
Paparon (2016)
Short | 24 min | Documentary, Short, Biography
'Paparon' is a 24-minute documentary about my father, Ron "Paparon" Johnson, a Vietnam veteran who spends his off-time among the homeless in downtown Berkeley and Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. He was hospitalized for several weeks ...See more'Paparon' is a 24-minute documentary about my father, Ron "Paparon" Johnson, a Vietnam veteran who spends his off-time among the homeless in downtown Berkeley and Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. He was hospitalized for several weeks after a psychotic breakdown ten years ago; his doctor was perplexed but told me it was likely delayed PTSD. He's since grown his hair and beard long and regularly talks about celestial movements, other dimensions, and all the things he's going to invent someday. He is semi-retired with no savings, and can barely support my mother with his modest veteran and social security benefits. He is 67 now and picked up smoking again a few years ago after having quit 40 years ago. It is a portrait of his family - our family - and how we've struggled to adjust our expectations of him since his transformation from dad into Paparon, the identity by which he's known to his "tribe" - the Occupy activists, homeless youth and damaged veterans with whom he seems most comfortable. Although I remember him as a kind and patient figure growing up, he's managed to mostly alienate his family while pursuing his raison d'etre of building sustainable communities to save the world. Is it worth risking the love and trust of your family in the pursuit of an impossible dream? Should we mourn the memory of a loved one who dramatically changes later in life? See less
Read more: Plot summary
Writer
Romin Lee Johnson (writer)
Producer
Romin Lee Johnson (producer)
Cinematographer
Romin Lee Johnson
Editor
Romin Lee Johnson
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Status
Edit Completed
Updated May 18, 2016

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