What a captivating (C-A-P-T-I-V-A-T-I-N-G) film! You might think that a film about spelling would be about as exciting as watching paint dry, but this documentary on the 1999 US national spelling bee championship contains more humour, pathos and chair-gripping suspense than any film I've seen for a long time. The eight children that are the documentary's subjects come from very diverse backgrounds, and their preparations range from Olympic style training regimes to occasionally leafing through a dictionary. But they are linked - by their love of words and a determination to succeed, maybe to prove something to themselves or to the world at large. The film is also a demonstration of the best elements of the American Dream, where anyone can win, regardless of whether their parents are wealthy and highly articulate, struggling single mothers, or Mexican immigrants who do not speak English. Spellbound is both highly entertaining and at times quite moving. If you like documentaries (and maybe want to improve your vocabulary), there's a very good chance you will thoroughly enjoy it.