15 Reasons To Live: HotDocs13 Review

Posted 10 years ago by myetvmedia

15 Reasons To Live HotDocs13 Review

Taking its cue from Why not? 15 reasons to liveAlan Zwieg’s movie follows the lives and loves of numerous people, across the age bracket. Moving from a shared love of music to schoolyard bullying to dealing with debilitating illness and death, we are kept constantly invested in the trials and tribulations on display, occasionally broken up with brief animated segments.

The film moves at a brisk pace, dealing with topics such as depression, immigration, loss of loved ones, hope and despair. At no point are we bored, but we rarely ask to see more of the stories told. It is masterfully put together, easily connecting the disparate themes and ideals each interview subject brings to the table. For each heart breaking story, like the director’s own story of a friend’s cancer or a woman who gave up her dream for her family, there is a positive upside, where whales are saved, young love blossoms and a man relearns how to read after a stroke. People are given terrible trials to endure and come out the other end stronger for it. Many use their difficulties to support others, and do not even realise the good they have done until later.

This is a film about the human spirit. It is positive and life-affirming, perhaps overbearing at times. By turns heart breaking and joyous, it doesn’t outstay its welcome or rush the stories and allows the interview subjects to tell their stories as they wish.  Recommended.

Donal O’Connor

Trailer

15 Reasons to Live

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