#5- Buck

What I learned: That horses are just like children. It takes a minute well spent to make them love you and a moment poorly used to make them fear you and when they are afraid they want to run.

What I thought: I was not expecting Buck's back story to be as heart-wrenching as it was. He and his brother were beat by their alcoholic father when they were little. They were put in the foster care system. It was hard and Buck had a lot of what people would label "baggage" because of it. But because of that he was able to identify with horses, especially those horses that had "baggage" or were "problems."
I was amazed at how he could translate what the horses were feeling into what people might feel and understand. No wonder he has a job traveling around the nation. He really does have a gift.
This man, Buck, is really the American Spirit. He has an underdog back story. He has seen pain. He has felt pain himself. But he has used that pain as knowledge and now is famous for helping others understand. wow.

Quote from the Movie: (Dialogue between Buck and a women at one of his teaching seminars talking about her wild horse) Buck: How much have you handled him?
Woman: His mom died in birth and I had to pull him out, but then I broke my back and I wasn't able to be with him.
Buck: "So he's basically an orphan"
Woman: ....I guess so.
Buck: "Well that should explain things"
This documentary was somewhat appropriate to watch after the Elmo one actually... it would seem childhood and child-like-ness is more essential then we all thought.


amdg.

#3 and 4

What I learned: That this movie is not really about Michael Jackson's life at all but about his last tour that he never got to give. Which is a cryin shame because it would have been THE concert of the Decade (being conservative)
He had contraptions throwing dancers into the air, he was planning to come out in a suit covered in video screens and ended the show with the stage opening up and a real bulldozer coming on stage. It would have been a historic event for the music world.
What I thought: No matter what "stance" you took on his life choices,(why do we even make it our business to have a "stance" on someone else's life??) he was a fantastic person to work for and collaberate with artistically. He was a perfectionist and would constantly call on his collaberators and would also be seen often encouraging his fellow performers to shine. I was impressed by more than just his skill on stage but also his awareness of the influence he had and how he used what was scheduled to be his last tour to make a point. We need to start with the man in the mirror and begin anew. Bravo Michael.
Quote: "This is YOUR time to shine. Give it all you've got!" -Michael to his lead guitarist

1. It is so hard to watch documentaries at school, especially when you decide to drown your computer in the equivelent of lake Erie.
2. Some people would say that it's kinda ironic that these two documentaries are being discussed at the same time. To those people I say, stop reading, becuase you're probably the type of person that annoys me.
I watched this kind of as a joke, but it really was intriguing. Thanks Maddie, for tossing it out there and thank YOU spring break for bringing me the boredom to actually watch it.
What I Learned: Puppeteers are legit. Really nothing more to say on that.
What I think: Avenue Q has killed our nation's respect for puppets and puppeteers. It murdered the magic in Puppets. At first, I was creeped out by this guy who pretty much devoted his whole life to puppets. But then I realized, he just wanted to bring smiles to people for the rest of his life. I learned he has a pretty awesome job.
Quote from the movie: "What everybody loves about Elmo is that he needs you. That's why kids love him, because he needs them... He is love and childhood. We need that" Whoopie Goldburg (Narrator of the film)


amdg.

#2- Babies

DOCUMENTARY TWO- Babies

What I learned: Whenever you have a Mongolian baby, he WILL try to explore... and by explore, I mean just keep on crawling until he reaches your herd of Yaks. Solution? It is not unreasonable to tie him to a bedpost to keep him at least inside on rainy days.
But seriously.... While there was no talking in this documentary, it was still very interesting. It examined pre-natal care, birthing, child-care, sibling rivalry, first steps, first words and so much more between cultures. It was so neat to see the attitude we take toward our young.

What I thought: Mongol baby was my favorite for sure. He was just such an explorer and amazed at everything from the rooster who got in bed with him to the goat drinking out of his bath. (Voted most entertaining baby, hands down) But it really was fascinating to see how by the end of the 18 months that we followed the babies, how much they had assimilated to their culture.

The African baby was very at home with skin, which is fully exposed in their culture (and in the movie). He is often seen looking at his brother's body and then looking at his own, discovering his own self. This was so pure of an experience and I wish all children could have that freedom.

The Asian baby was very intelligent (and could also throw quite the impressive temper-tantrum) but was shown contemplating blocks and how they fit together. It was so fascinating how at such a young age she was so entranced with how things worked.

The American baby had hardcore hippie parents... it was irritating. I realized I couldn't watch her life with unbiased eyes because it was too close to the culture I know.

Quote from the Movie: no talking...

So, Babies was decent and I spent most of my time saying "awwww" and melting at their chubby cheeks and thighs. If you just love watching squishy babies I recommend it.


amdg.

#1: God Grew Tired of Us

DOCUMENTARY ONE- God Grew Tired of Us

What I learned: The Lost Boys are not just Peter Pan's boys.

In fact, here in this distorted world, they are the boys who have grown up running. They started in Sudan and they had to run for their lives from their homeland. They saw horrible things. Their families and friends tortured and murdered in front of their very eyes. They ran. Thousands of miles. They banded together as brothers, new families and found their way to refuge camps.
One by one the lucky ones are placed all over the United States for a "better life." Pittsburgh. Philadelphia. New York. Phoenix. 23 states. All over. They get jobs. They see electricity for the first time. They learn "our ways."

What I think: While there is no open war in America, is it a better culture here? I'm feeling like it's not. They work hard, these Lost Boys. They care about their families. They are shocked at the lack of time we spend with each other and how truely lazy we are. It was fascinating to watch them and listen to what they think about our culture. But not only this.
People say that Stuebenville is a bubble. But what I think is America is a bubble. We don't even care what the person walking past us on the street is going through, let alone what the people in Sudan are going through EVERY DAY. This was so exemplified in the following quote.
Quote from the movie: "It is such a shame to see a community that doesn't even care about each other"

They are heroes. My week will be fasting and praying for the Lost Boys and Lost Girls who have not only known such physical hunger and pain but have known hunger of the heart like I can't imagine.

We are so blessed.


amdg

aim

How often do I veg out infront of the black box at night and let my brain go to mush... too often.
Solution? If I must watch, then I'll watch more documentaries.

I figure even if I don't watch all of these, at least I'll be a little more educated that I was when I started. I will then share anything I have learned in this blog.

Leave me suggestions of ones you love!

Here is the working list, in no particular order.
X -Babies
X -God grew tired of us
X -This Is It
X- Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey
-The Corporation
-Man on a Wire
-Control Room
-Maxed Out
-Life in a day
-Which Way Home?
-Transcendent Man
-C.S. Lewis and the Chronicles of Narnia
-Inside American Power: Air Force One
-Exit through the Gift Shop
-Inside North Korea
-The business of being Born
X- Buck The Horse Whisper
-Food Inc
-The Last Mountain
-Unborn in the USA
-Maafa 21
-Growing Up Online
-The Catholicism Series