It wasn't watching, as much it was staring. It was like director Gianfranco Rosi made us notice and examine this dilemma more thoroughly than any news station or social media platform. Those quiet yet fierce moments were everything,, everything we have to see.
In addition, Rosi used quite the effective symbolism, putting a little kid in use like that was genius. Samuele has a lazy eye; he's anxious worrying about something that doesn't exist; using tree branches to make a slingshot;turning cactus trees into targets to shoot and explode; he has trouble sailing. All these and more, are major issues that some people/countries around the world need to fix. When it comes to refugees we look the other way; we believe they are a problem; we'd rather make weapons than anything; we see them as enemies; we don't know how to help them.
This documentary has artistic value, but more importantly, it has a message that we all need to listen, see, and examine very carefully and wholeheartedly.
In addition, Rosi used quite the effective symbolism, putting a little kid in use like that was genius. Samuele has a lazy eye; he's anxious worrying about something that doesn't exist; using tree branches to make a slingshot;turning cactus trees into targets to shoot and explode; he has trouble sailing. All these and more, are major issues that some people/countries around the world need to fix. When it comes to refugees we look the other way; we believe they are a problem; we'd rather make weapons than anything; we see them as enemies; we don't know how to help them.
This documentary has artistic value, but more importantly, it has a message that we all need to listen, see, and examine very carefully and wholeheartedly.