PEI Kids: Generation Change (Short)
Documentaries are undervalued by the masses, but should be among the most valued of mediums when it comes to film and TV. Our appetite for poppy entertainment and mindless thrills has gotten us away from really understanding life and digging deep and seeing how ugly reality can be. That sounds harsh, especially from someone who loves and values pop culture and genre entertainment the way I do, but documentaries are a resource to be treasured, and we don’t. Joseph A. Halsey’s “PEI Kids: Generation Change,” a documentary short written by Lee Kolinsky (who’s previously given me “Junkie Heaven,” “Bullified” and “Stand Up Guy” to review), deals with important subjects in a short, enlightening manner, as we interview about a dozen or so at-risk teens in the inner city about how they would solve problems in their neighborhood. Halsey introduces us to each teen in a straight-away shot where they tell us of their favorite superhero, and why they feel the way we do. We also get insight on the kids by Rob Fiorello, a counselor who works with these kids, and sees the capacity for more in them than the larger society seems to notice. We also get roundtable discussions with the film’s moderator, Adrienne Bankert, and their thoughtful answers to the questions confirm Fiorello’s insights. There’s not much more to the film than that, but with the powerful look at life and the sensibilities of the people who live in the inner cities, and what they want to see done. Halsey and Kolinsky have vital story to tell here, and it’s not quite as bleak as one might expect reading a simple log line for this short film. This is a film of hope, that this generation can bring about necessary change. I’m optimistic.
