DOC NYC 2020: Chasing Childhood Review

Keith NoakesNovember 11, 202082/100n/a4 min
Directors
Margaret Munzer Loeb, Eden Wurmfeld
Rating
n/a
Running Time
78 minutes
Release Date
n/a
Overall Score
Rating Summary
Chasing Childhood is a compelling and eye-opening documentary about a very current issue plaguing society and one that many may have overlooked.

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Times have certainly changed since we have grown up. Society has clearly changed over the last few generations as has the definition of what it means to be successful, impacting those from all demographics and socioeconomic statuses. Justified or not, we live in a world that is generally on edge with dangers lurking around every corner while parents are pressured by society to prepare their children for a future that has become increasingly harder to attain with technology only amplifying those pressures and concerns. This is a fine line that only gets harder and harder to balance where sacrifices are made in order to achieve the ultimate goal. One of those sacrifices are childhoods which don’t mean nearly the same as they used to. Perhaps the most important stage in a child’s development, they are slowly but surely disappearing, leaving them at a disadvantage once they become adults. This has become the new normal for the most part and Chasing Childhood is a documentary that explores this phenomena.

Chasing Childhood explores the world of helicopter parenting, stranger danger, and the moving target of a successful future. It is definitely sad to watch what childhoods have become as viewers follow children from schools in affluent Wilton, CT; working class Patchogue, NY; and metropolitan Manhattan. While these kids may come from different circles, they share a surprising amount of similarities. Another interesting contrast was how each environment approached the issue, listening to the kids and trying to empower them and their parents to loosen their grips on their children and letting them flourish on their own and finally learn for themselves, for better or worse. These kids are not helpless but they still yearn for room to grow. Meanwhile, the film followed the “free play” movement.

In the end, Chasing Childhood is a compelling documentary that will surely open eyes on an important issue that many have maybe overlooked.

still courtesy of film website


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