A day before the Newtown screening we find out about the Texas church shooting. I rush to inform my friend who is sat beside me. She responds casually. Later at a meeting with other peers, I bring it up and they react for a brief moment and later one of them shrugs. Are we a generation that is desensitized to gun violence? At this point, probably. Newtown, Orlando, Las Vegas, Texas, and I know I am missing many more. The US has the highest rate of gun violence among developed countries and this is a problem.
Newtown was a documentary that had to made. It is important that these stories are told and that we are aware that events like these remain in a city’s DNA. It is a scar that doesn’t heal. I like how Snyder blatantly had a black screen behind nearly every interviewee (especially at the start of the documentary). I also enjoyed the usage of the drones throughout. Drones are usually over exaggerated in films but this was subtle and gave a floating effect to the piece. I think Snyder blatantly tried to contrast the community’s heavy hearts with the lightness of the drone shots such as the high angle shots of the trees, homes, and Newtown as a whole, giving a little breathing space as well. Adding to the lightness was the final shot of one of the fathers jumping off the plane and parachuting. I think that was the most beautiful shot throughout the film.
The footage from the police car and the parents waiting outside the school was triggering. It gave us a feel of how tense and miserable the situation was. I looked around me and saw many people in the audience crying. I was numb until the parachuting scene. That scene was liberating in a very powerful way. After the screening, I asked Snyder about that moment. She said that she was shocked how he willingly wanted to do it. It was therapeutic in its own manner. Memory played a big role in Newtown. Many parents said that day will never be forgotten, but one mother kept fearing that she will forget her son as life goes on. It is a scary thought and her fear resonated with me. As parents, many of them said that they try to keep watching videos to not forget how their child sounded. Losing memory overall is frightening but losing memory of a little child you birthed is worse. This was, as we all know, a painful documentary to watch. But, it is a wake up call to us that people are hurting and gun violence must end.
I agree with everything you’ve said, Shreya. I can especially relate to the “numbness” that has scarily become a part of everyone’s reactions to these events that have become all too commonplace in our world. This documentary definitely had to be made, and the way Snyder executed it could not have been better. I, too, enjoyed the parachuting scene and found it somewhat freeing as well.