I was very excited to come to this screening because I am from Connecticut and went to a day school where many of the students and some of my friends were from Newtown. I remember the day very vividly. I remember constantly checking my phone for updates on the details. I remember the confusion. No one knew what was happening or what happened for hours after the fact. I remember getting let out early and watching my parents cry over the tragedy. I remember singing with my acapella group a year later to the families who lost a family member. It was truly a horrifying and emotionally traumatic event that affected the lives of many and the entire state forever.
There was one phrase that was said in the beginning of the film that resonated with me throughout the rest of the film and that was “The world needs to be made emotionally aware.” Kim Snyder did an excellent job honoring this phrase.
One of the strengths of this film was the fact that it wasn’t completely based around the political picture or by the violent picture or about the attacker picture, it was about the emotions, the loss, the trauma, the support, the love, the hope, the belief. It was edited into this beautiful story that portrayed so much emotional pain but so much emotional growth as well. The interviews were so moving and to be honest some of them even made me cry. They were so powerful, everything in this film was so powerful. Watching this reminded me and brought back emotions I had felt during the time of the event, but I felt like I became closer to the event and the people through watching this film because it was an inside look into these people’s lives who were affected. How they’re feeling, how they’re coping, it was so interesting to watch and at some times incredibly heart wrenching.
I hope this documentary continues to reach masses around the world because I think it is truly special. It educates through emotion, not just fact, not just by visuals, but it makes you feel. I left the room wanting change. I left the room with the motivation to protest just like the people included in the film desired and did.
Overall, this was an incredibly moving experience, it was truly touching and groundbreaking. It gave me new perspective on the incident and I feel like it has opened my eyes even wider to the beauty of documentary filmmaking and how it can really touch peoples lives and help to change the world. Incredible film, incredible experience, incredible filmmaker.