This Frontline apparently is a microcosm of the economy over the last two decades:
But the intellectually honest response to this film is much less
comforting, for the overwhelming impression in “Two American Families”
is not of mistakes but of fierce persistence: how hard the Stanleys and
Neumanns work, how much they believe in playing by the rules, how
remarkable the cohesion of the Stanley family is, how tough Terry
Neumann has to become. Both families devoutly attend church. Government
assistance is alien and hateful to them. Keith Stanley says, “I don't
know what drugs or even alcohol looks like.” In the words of Tammy
Thomas, whose similar story is told in my new book, “The Unwinding:
An Inner History of the New America,” these people do what they’re
supposed to do. They have to navigate this heartless economy by
themselves. And they keep sinking and sinking.
The author of the article writes that
Two American Families:
will take its place among the central documents of our time.
On a side note, I'm always astounded whenever documentarians have the patience to film these things - this one started in 1991. I'd film for about 10 minutes and then insist on showing everybody.
No comments:
Post a Comment