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Reviews
The Revolution Generation (2021)
A Triumph for the Millennial Generation
After creating their iconic environmental documentary, Kiss the Ground, the talented directing duo Rebecca and Josh Tickell have returned with another extraordinary documentary, The Revolution Generation: How Millennials Can Save America and the World, which examines and addresses the negative stereotypes surrounding millennials and presents how millennials are fighting back against these false perceptions. The film presents the archetypes of generations that have occurred cyclically throughout history. According to this cycle, baby boomers fall under the prophet archetype, generation x falls into the nomad archetype, and millennials are destined to become the next hero archetype. Due to these turnings, that means that millennials have incidentally fallen on the cusp of a crisis, and are forced to reckon with how to overcome and move forward. There is then a fluid transition into comparing the idyllic childhood that most millennials experienced and the future they were promised to the stark reality that they face. Between the insurmountable student debt rates, subpar living wages for working-class citizens, and the crash of the housing market, the state of society that was handed off to millennials when they came of age was less than fair. But rather than buckling under the pressure, we are shown an array of millennials who rose to the challenge and decided to take action into their own hands to fight for a better future. We hear from influential celebrities like Shailene Woodley, Corbin Bleu, Jennifer Lawrence, and Michelle Rodriguez, who narrates through the turmoils and triumphs of her generation. We also hear from notable political leaders and activists who are part of the millennial generation like Christin "Cici" Battle, Chase Iron Eyes, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on how they fight to be the change they want to see. Though this documentary covers many themes and social causes, like social justice, gender equality, lgbtq+ rights, and climate change, it does so seamlessly with the background of progressiveness and change unifying all these causes together. Revolution Generation is a documentary that not only begs us to reflect and have love for humankind but also to take a stand and fight for what we believe in. I was wholly invigorated and enamored by this film, as it deserves an abundance of praise for moving the audience to bear witness and be the change we need.
1982 (2019)
A beautiful and touching story
Writer and director Oualid Mouaness has truly outdone himself with the film 1982. This film manages to capture the essence of being young and in love for the first time while carrying the heavy load of being situated in the middle of war-torn times. One of the recurring symbols that represents this childhood innocence is the superhero TIGRON that Wissam is constantly sketching in his notebook. This imaginary character becomes a central part of the plot, and Wissam is able to see him interact with the world in his greatest times of need. Adding animation to this film was a bold choice, but Ouilad uses it to his advantage to exemplify the mind of a child to the audience. This film is so successful in its storytelling elements and presents these memories Ouilad had as a child in a captivating way. It's definitely a film I would recommend to anyone and personally find myself watching it again and again.
Kiss the Ground (2020)
Beautiful film with a real message!
One documentary that has completely changed the current environmental conversation is Kiss the Ground, directed by Rebecca and Josh Tickell. This film features a wide range of notable figures, such as Gisele Bündchen, Tom Brady, Jason Mraz, and Ian Somerhalder, and narration by the legendary Woody Harrelson. Outside of a celebrity cast, we also hear from numerous NASA and NOAA scientists and writers with years of research in this field. The breadth of voices that this film features gives it massive credibility, and also allows the message to reach multiple audiences as the film has a voice for everyone within it. It doesn't feel too oversaturated in personal anecdotes, but also doesn't carry the same dryness that most academic and scientific documentaries would hold. This documentary really creates a voice of its own, one that has the power to move people, expand their minds, and ignite passion and motivation. It focuses on the future and the potential that we have to make things better, rather than focusing on all the negatives that we see in the news, as presented at the very beginning of the film. I think this difference in voice and tone is what really makes this documentary a hit, and allows it to be taught and loved by many people far and wide.