It's funny how random moments connect. The other night Gillian and I took Wougie on a stroll to my neighborhood park, getting to know one another and sharing bits and pieces of our lives. I learned that she is one of 8 {holy crap! 4boys/4girls}, the sole sibling States-side and in the market for a puppy {yeah!}. I also learned of the apparent gap between our education systems{hers better, ours, not so much.}.
Then last night I sat down to find and watch a documentary film for Ten - my documentary-a-day activity & upcoming get-together {more on this tomorrow}. I didn't find a Ten title, but what I did find left quite an impression. And, connection.
This film is compelling, eye-opening and heartbreaking all in one.
It was the title and vague recognition that caught my eye, and as soon as I saw the David Guggenheim association, I recalled having heard about the 2010 film. So, I settled in while editing photos and Billy Webb by my side snacking on ice cream {Eddie's neopolitan, if you're wondering} and watched. I was hooked at go. The early conversation with one young boy captured my attention and never let go. A simple exaggerated swallow while he tried to be strong {and was}, nearly broke my heart. It wasn't the only time heart-strings were pulled during my watch.
What this film shows and focuses on is our broken education system, the hopes and fears nearly every parent has for their kids and all the struggles along the way. To watch the featured families try so hard and want so much and so little {a solid education} for their kids is another connection so many share. I imagined how I would feel if I sat and waited, as they did, to find out the fate of a family in a lottery drawing. The hope in their kids' faces is so powerful.
It shows Bill Gates and Michele Rhee and so many other folks trying to do their part to fix what's wrong. It left me with the notion, what can I do? I shared my viewing experience with a co-worker this morning - and mentioned aloud "I was so moved by this film and feel so compelled to do something, but in reality, tomorrow will come, more diapers will get changed, breakfast/lunch/dinner will be served, and I'll go back to doing nothing. I'll be a terd like nearly everyone else."
If nothing else, I'm more aware of our education system and more aware of the need for change. Every documentary film, objective as it may try to be, is skewed by the filmmaker's views and I recognize that every story has two sides. But clearly, change is needed.
The film closes as strongly as it opens and I'll never forget that photograph of a young boy in the arms of his father's. Will I join this movement for change? Will I help make a difference? We'll see.
{Tell me, has a film moved you to join a cause?}
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