As I finally sit down to write the response I have been thinking about since walking out of class Monday night, I am realizing how hard it is to put into words the feelings I experienced both while watching Kirsten Johnson’s film and listening to her speak. I was entirely moved by Kirsten’s film that was able to capture the attention of so many around the world, along with her natural ability to captivate a room as she did after the screening.
On a technical film level, from sound, to lighting, to clips capturing the emotions of those Kirsten was interviewing, the film was absolutely incredible. There was not a second I wanted to look away, as I was entirely intrigued and almost never wanted it to end. The sounds she was able to capture and manipulate to evoke certain emotions at certain times was astounding. There were so many moving parts that came together, yet they did not disrupt the flow of the film.
On a meaningful level, I was moved by how much Kirsten’s film personally impacted me. Sometimes it is important to reflect on how small we truly are, and how our problems are so incredibly insignificant compared to what the rest of the world faces on a daily basis. There are people who can find things to complain about almost everyday, and yet those two women shopping at that tree with their man-made axes were smiling and laughing, and that nurse had to maintain her calmness and optimism as she delivered a baby in conditions many of us could not imagine. As we were all watching, there was a sense of mutual emotion felt with every scene, and I think that is one of the most difficult aspects of filmmaking – keeping your audience both engaged and on the same emotional level.
Kirsten Johnson as a person embodies all that it takes to be a documentarian, let alone an incredible human. Her ability to connect with the people and places she films is evident throughout her work, and her eagerness to then tell their stories is what makes her so unique and her work so meaningful.