Big Picture Big Sound

On February 14, 2018, the lives of many teenagers were changed forever when a former student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, entered the premises with a gun. In six minutes of rapid-fire carnage, 34 people were shot and 17 were killed. "Parkland Rising," a new documentary by Cheryl Horner, chronicles the tragedy and the hope and activism that sprang from the life-altering Valentine's Day afternoon.

As the film opens, Horner shows a montage of the widespread coverage the Parkland students received in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. David Hogg, Cameron Kasky, and Emma Gonzalez were featured on news outlets, talk shows, and magazines, and courted for speaking engagements around the country. They became the face of a community rocked by gun violence. What Horner does extremely well in the documentary is not solely focus on the names you know. We meet several students and hear testimonials about the day and the ongoing PTSD the students suffer.

"Parkland Rising," while staying true to its focus on teenage activism, also features perspective from parents who lost their children in the shooting. Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter Jaime was murdered, and Manuel Oliver, who lost his son Joaquin, have committed their lives to joining the movement for smart and sensible gun reform, along with the students of Marjory Stoneman. Their hearts have been broken and their lives have been turned upside down in ways most could never imagine but they have found a new path and purpose in life and a way to honor their children.

The back half of "Parkland Rising" focuses more on David Hogg's dominance as the face of the movement. He is very aware that the topic of guns is a hot button issue but having lived through what he did, he feels a calling to talk about what most grown ups won't. Hogg and his classmates won't tolerate clear backpacks as a temporary band aid-or empty "thoughts and prayers" that come from leaders. His position has always been clear: Protect and support the Second Amendment, while protecting everyone's right to live. The movie is about trying to find that balance.

The documentary skillfully walks the line of being a PSA for one side and an attack on other positions. It's about introducing the notion to others that there must be harmony between responsible gun laws and reform, so people don't keep needlessly dying. As Hogg states ahead of one of his peaceful protests, "Honestly, I don't f---ing get it. We are just trying to save lives. I'm not trying to take anyone's f---ing guns. It's the people spreading misinformation about me and everything that goes on that causes this shit and is probably going to cause me to get killed."

As expressed in the film, Hogg's objectives seem clear and uncontroversial. So, why are he and his classmates on the receiving end of such vitriol? "Parkland Rising" might not change your mind on the topics at hand but hopefully it will leave you thinking about the teenagers' simple plea: Let us live.

 

"Parkland Rising" will be available via virtual theater screenings starting June 5^th.