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10/10
A rejuvenating breath of hope
9 September 2018
This brilliant indie achieves everything you could want from an activist doc. In the face of heart-wrenching environmental challenges, this collection of diverse young student scientists from around the globe face down and outsmart local hazards that threaten the homes they love. The could not be more genuine, leveraging their deep passion and advanced scientific insights to invent programs and technologies that sweep them into the final ranks of the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).

We all know the stakes around climate change and global environmental devastation are at a breaking point, and the current political tide is proactively eroding and resisting the very science and strategies that could minimize the existential threats of the coming century. And in our deep concern, many of us have absorbed dozens of important but high-pressure documentaries over the past decade about global warming and social and environmental justice.

Candidly, I was a bit apprehensive to see another gut punch story about our dwindling chances of sustainability on this planet, but this film is a special shining gem! Director Laura Nix intentionally takes a very different approach, following the passion and challenges of these young adults against the backdrop of a prestigious science fair, to give us a film that is smart and light and engaging and inspiring and joyful and touching and human and hopeful.

Brilliant! If other green films have sucked the life out of you, you owe it to yourself to take this rejuvenating breath of hope.
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Me, Myself and I (2017–2018)
10/10
Funny, touching, clever — great fun!
25 September 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I can't believe MM&I got us to start caring about Alex, via 3 characters, with only 30 minutes to split between them. 8 minutes per show to tell each story. Phew!

The triptych storyline is a brilliant, original idea. I truly love it — and I consider myself super picky. It's a really unique framework with huge potential! It has the magnetism audiences are always drawn to in countless sci-fi time-machine stories, but without the ridiculous conceit of a sci-fi time machine!

And the time shifting can be played forward or reverse: very clever. An event happens today: what's the butterfly effect in the future? A small poignant moment in the future: reveals a meaningful past.

The intercuts between timelines at key moments is well done and surprisingly affecting. 'There she goes' plays at 14 — cut to car radio at 40. Awesome. Stealing fries from CEO friend at 40 — cut (backwards) to 14 w/ new brother-in-law introducing the idea. Awesome. After dinner mint. Yes.

Anyone older than a teenager knows that as you age your life is peppered with the shrapnel of youth. Broken moments that have deep meaning for yourself and are lost to the rest of the world. Touching.

Other super efficient storytelling I loved: Alex is introduced in the first 10 seconds by showcasing his passion for invention (Rube Goldberg machine) and Bulls (posters / jersey / game on TV) in one tracking shot. Incredible. Also loved efficiency of stick-figure-family on car, before and after. Just great.

Huge kudos to the writers and creators. It is obvious there's a lot of veteran writing and production behind this fun, funny, heartfelt, piece. I hope it has legs for miles.

We look forward to a great season!
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