Lesson from a school shooting: Notes from Dunblane (2018) Short Movie Review

 

Lesson from a School Shooting: Notes from Dunblane | 2018 | 22m
Genre: Documentary/History/Short | Country: US
Director: Kim A. Snyder
IMDB: 6.1
My Rate: 7/10

This documentary chronicles the communication between Father Bob Weiss and a priest from Dunblane, Scotland, sharing similar experiences with mass shootings in their respective towns.

Warning:

Heavy subject matter.

 

Synopsis:

A mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut in 2012 killed 27 people, 20 of whom were children. This event deeply impacted the community and the victims' families. A priest from Dunblane, Scotland, contacted Father Bob Weiss, a priest in Connecticut, to offer condolences and support.

In 1996, a similar mass shooting occurred at Dunblane Primary School in Scotland, resulting in 16 deaths and 15 injuries. This also deeply affected the victims' families, prompting government action to prevent future incidents.

The communication between the two priest provided emotional support. The Dunblane experience aimed to guide support for the Sandy Hook victims' families and Father Bob, who also experienced the indirect impact of the shooting.

 

Review:

"You have to cope, life goes on."

The story's premise—connecting two similar events in different places and times—is interesting, aiming to show the emotional connection and mutual support in overcoming grief and trauma. However, the film's purpose and lesson are unclear.

The documentary doesn't focus on the victims' families but rather on the priest supporting them.  It dwells excessively on the priests’ feelings and experiences, such as their visits to therapists.

While the story is touching, it could be improved.  The impact on the victims' families should be shown more effectively.  Scenes depicting their grief are insufficient, lacking visual impact.

The intended message is also unclear. The lesson seems to relate to gun control, but this isn't fully explored. The film ends by showing that numerous similar incidents occurred between the two events, undermining the presented lesson.

This documentary has significant potential but needs a clearer purpose to become a more impactful resource for policymakers.

 

(Aluna)