Documentary
Premise:
Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic and widespread preventative measures, the government deeming what is and isn’t “essential” can have permanent implications for the state of Utah and the rest of the country. This documentary follows Eric Moutsos, founder of the Utah Business Revival, as he fights the odds to put together events that support small businesses and basic civil freedoms.
Why you should watch it:
The issue alone I think is enough reason to watch it. There are many ongoing debates during the pandemic about who and what is “essential.” This documentary challenges the concept altogether and boldly claims that the government does not have the right to make and enforce that decision. It’s an important message that I feel everyone should listen to at least once and then decide for themselves what they believe. The message wasn’t advocated for just by Moutsos or filmmaker Steve Sorensen, but these are views shared by many featured speakers and interviewees. Doctors, nurses, politicians, sheriffs, celebrities, and common every day citizens inserted their concerns regarding the current state of our country. These views mostly go against a lot of what we have heard from the media about how dangerous this virus is and how necessary it is to shut down our lives at this time. Whether you agree with this perspective or not, it’s important to know all sides of a debate to make the best informed, personal decision.
Currently, this film is being shown for free to live audiences in select locations. I watched it at the Liberty Hall Venue in Ogden county, which was the perfect spot. The walls were lined with Founding Fathers and a huge sculpture of George Washington on a horse was right next to the big screen. The venue held a large, enthusiastic audience that made the overall viewing experience interesting and enjoyable. They were very engaged throughout the entire presentation, cheering, booing, and laughing at each beat. If a rowdy-ish crowd of maskless people seems like it would make for a negative viewing experience, I would recommend catching this documentary virtually. However, for me, it added to the overall experience, especially during a time with very little human interaction.
In addition to the audience, the documentary on its own was very intense. The message is intense. The constant music in the background is intense. This year has been intense and this film reflects that. It is straight to the point and jam-packed with information for an hour. It isn’t going to waste your time or beat around the bush with its cry that the government is taking away our freedoms. Freedom comes with side effects, for sure, but losing the ability to choose would be far worse. That’s scary to hear, but an important thought to consider.
The story is fun to follow. I’m glad they documented the Utah Business Revival’s “extreme” efforts of creating events for small businesses to stay afloat and for people to have a safe space to express their desires for freedom of speech, religion, and choice. One of the most exciting storylines was the execution of the first concert in the U.S. since the coronavirus break out. It is eye-opening to see how far our country has gone in less than a year by showing the struggle to fight for simple, normal activities.
The editing is extremely effective to emphasize their arguments. Many times, there are visuals of Nazi (National Socialist German Worker’s Party) Germany overlapped by audio of what we are being told today, or it is done the other way around with modern day clips and audio from the past. It’s an eerie but effective parallel to show why the creators are so concerned about the government’s mandates and enforcement. Seeing the past and present edited together side by side is a film technique known as the Kuleshov effect, which means that editing two shots together (though not naturally connected as a narrative) is more impactful than just one shot on its own. This tactic does make the documentary feel like pro-conservative and pro-Trump propaganda, but to be fair, we have all been bombarded by propaganda from the media about how we should all accept what we are being told to do by the government without hearing much of the other side. I would recommend to just watch and see what kind of implications could be in store for long-lasting Covid regulations. The Nazi connection is an assumption, but there are many similarities that should be acknowledged.
And if you are put off by the idea of watching something produced by a side you don’t agree with, I think the biggest strength this film has going for it is that it shows a range of beliefs. There are so many people in this film simply reporting what they are seeing. If we have multiple vantage points, we can better hone in on the most effective response. Just because someone doesn’t want to wear a mask, it doesn’t mean they hate people and don’t believe in science. Just because someone wants their business to be open, it doesn’t mean they won’t be taking safety measures. While some people may be that way, there aren’t only two sides that everyone is flocking to and this documentary does a great job of showing that. It’s a little too much like McCarthyism to assume that if someone has a differing opinion on one part of a greater issue, they must be a conspiracy theorist or anti-medicine or a Karen or however you want to label it.
The important takeaway here is that we need the freedom to choose. Isn’t that what our country is all about? We can choose to be careful if we want to, and especially to make wise choices based on our and our loved ones’ health risk, but those decisions should ultimately be up to us. I hope you see this film and join in the discussion about what you see happening. You have your own viewpoint and experiences that are just as important as Moutsos’ and Sorensen’s even if that opinion differs from theirs. With each person participating, solutions will become more clear.
Parent’s Guide:
I mentioned intensity, but that’s more concerning the tone and what is said which would probably go over a child’s head. Most of the action involves people at events talking with one another, giving speeches, buying and selling, and just basic human interaction. There are brief old clips of police brutality that could be a little frightening. There is very little mild profanity and no other offensive content. It’s safe for kids to watch, but they may get bored if they don’t understand what’s going on, or they could feel tense from the tone. At the live events, many people come with their entire families.
Where to watch:
Free events are announced at https://www.facebook.com/groups/utahbizrevival
You can also reserve a copy of the digital release once that comes out https://nonessentialfilm.com/tickets-donations/
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