Eructation

Bluesky

Those who come to Eructation – which is the posh word for “burping” – cold, may be forgiven for thinking it is a mockumentary rather than a documentary, given the quirky approach of Victoria Trow. But the absurdist approach is a good fit for the task in hand, which is following Oregonian Kaylee Kotkins as she attempts to break the world record for the loudest female belch.

Trow uses deliberate staging, including by the looks of it, a fair amount of set dressing as it’s fairly hard to believe that even a hardcore burper would keep a cupboard exclusively for dozens of same-name cereal or a fridge permanently full of Coors. “It’s like I’m an athlete,” Kotkins says, as she pops open a can. The attention to detail has a pay-off, however, when it comes to the sound design, which is used throughout to indicate just how loud the current world record of 107.3 decibels actually is.

A car alarm at the start stands at 85db, while later we can hear just how loud everyday items are because Trow has Kotkins keep speaking as they are running, so that she is completely drowned out, for example, by a blender.

Trow's approach has a pleasing Wes Anderson vibe, and Kotkins’ illustrations in her Burp Diary – a document she keeps on hand to help her – are also a lot of fun. It might not be the most informative short documentary you’ll ever see, but Trow, who has a history in advertising, knows how to amplify the style.

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