Davis Guggenheim’s follow up to his excellent Academy Award winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth is another very well made, very strong film perfect for raising discussion. Like his previous film this documentary is about an important issue. This topic, however, is one that is not as politically dividing as his movie on climate change. (A side note, it is called climate change now, because global warming causes a lot of people to misunderstand the issue.) Waiting For Superman takes a look at the education system in America. It takes aim at many of the flaws that are prevalent in our system. It is told in a very savvy and entertaining way. It looks at the bureaucracy of the system, the teachers unions and the rise of Charter schools. The biggest fault of the film comes towards the end. The movie spends its running time describing the issues but by the end you realize it has not done enough, in terms of suggesting a solution.
The strongest portion of the film is also its emotional core. It follows a selection of children across the country entering lotteries in the hopes of gaining a spot for their children in the overcrowded Charter schools. All of the children are worthy of the best education possible and watching the hope and despair that comes along with their situation is heart wrenching.
This is an important film no matter what you believe about the state of our schools or the reason we have gotten to this point. The movie raises discussion about one of the most important issues in life, the well being and future of our children and nation.
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