Sydney Pearson ’20 and Bella Henry ’21
FILMS AND DOCUMENTARIES, SYDNEY PEARSON ’20
This quarantine has been bleak to say the least, but it has provided us with ample time to watch every film or documentary we have been pushing off for lack of time. The three pieces that I am about to share have been my saving graces during this lockdown; I thoroughly enjoyed each one for both the engrossing plotlines and educational values.
First, I will talk about the movie Parasite, in which a working class family of four trick an upper class family into hiring them all without knowing that they are related. After each of them settle into their new jobs, the situation spirals rapidly into complete chaos which continues until their secret is uncovered. Parasite provides comic relief while also having a riveting horror/thriller aspect. It also lays out a unique commentary on classism and discrimination which, I think, is what ultimately earned the movie its Academy Award for Best Picture.
Another piece that I loved was the Netflix documentary, Murder to Mercy: the Cyntoia Brown Story. I’m sure that most will recognize her name, as her case has been widely publicized in the media for years. The documentary follows Cyntoia’s story from when she was first arrested for murder at 16 years old after shooting and killing a man that she feared was going to kill her. It documents Cyntoia’s drastic transformation in prison and the long process which led up to her acquittal in 2019, 15 years later. With exclusive interviews from family members, police, and lawyers, this documentary provides a bigger picture that the media did not; it’s definitely a must watch.
Lastly, the Netflix documentary The Rachel Divide tells the story of Rachel Dolezal: former president of the NAACP (National Association for Advancement of Colored People) turned enemy of many in the black community. This story was also widely covered by the media due to Rachel’s fraudulent behavior and controversial opinions regarding race and cultural appropriation amidst the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. Dolezal has posed as a black woman for the entirety of her adult life, which enabled her to rise in status and earn money as an activist in the black community. In 2015, the public discovered that she was indeed a white person, born to white parents with no African roots whatsoever. This documentary explains Rachel’s turbulent upbringing and brings to light the many causes for her confusion regarding her identity. It also gives the audience a look into what her life has become after the scandal and why she still identifies as a black woman.
So, if you’re looking to cure a bad case of boredom, these three films should do the job! I’ll also briefly mention a few more recommendations. Coraline: nostalgic, stunning animation, whimsical but terrifying. You probably watched this as a child, but I promise, you will appreciate it a lot more now. Jojo Rabbit: heart-wrenching, educational, Oscar-winner. And to wrap it up, Joker: intense, complex, depicts dramaticized real-life struggles.
TV SHOWS, BELLA HENRY ’21
If you want to tempt yourself with a crime show that will expose you to the incredible Matthew Gray Gubler, make you want to join the FBI, and wish you had an eidetic memory, then Criminal Minds is the one for you. Criminal Minds focuses on the elite team of FBI profilers of the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU). These agents analyze the country’s most dangerous criminals and their minds; their main goal is to think like the criminals themselves, and try to stop them before they strike again. I am known to binge watch TV shows, and it’s taken me about a month and a half to finish twelve seasons of Criminal Minds. If you have a normal sleep schedule and need a show that will last you a while, Criminal Minds is it! You can find the first twelve seasons on Netflix and the remaining ones for purchase on Amazon.
Netflix has also been dishing out some seriously great TV shows for us to watch during quarantine – from Tiger King, to Outer Banks, to the very recently released Never Have I Ever. Tiger King is a Netflix series detailing the life of Joe Exotic, the infamous collector of big cats who he kept at a “zoo” in Oklahoma. The show focuses on Joe’s hostile relationship with Carole Baskin, an animal rights activist, founder of Big Cat Rescue, and who Joe accused of murder. If you want a series that is unlike anything you’ve ever watched, you should definitely give Tiger King a try.
Another series many are obsessing about is Outer Banks. This show is set in North Carolina and focuses on a group of teenagers called “Pogues”. The teens attempt to find out what happened to the missing father of their leader, John B. In this search, they discover treasure that is tied to John B’s father. With the law and the “Kooks”, a wealthy and superior group, chasing them, the Pogues must overcome many obstacles in order to fulfill John B’s father’s goal of unearthing the treasure.
Finally, if you’re in the mood for a coming-of-age show that will make you laugh and cry in one sitting, Never Have I Ever is perfect for you. The story revolves around Devi Vishwakumar, a fifteen year old Indian American high schooler from Sherman Oaks, California. After a traumatic freshman year where she lost her father and then the use of her legs, Devi begins her sophomore year determined to change her social status. She struggles to deal with her grief, Indian identity, school, friends, family, and relationships. Unlike the typical teenage TV show, Never Have I Ever addresses topics such as sexuality, identity, and grief. The series consists of ten episodes, which are only thirty minutes each, so it’s a great show to help you decompress or binge watch.
