First half is a collection of very interesting lives, the second half is pure tension
This documentary follows a group of children from different parts of America, races and family backgrounds, who have all progressed from their regional/state spelling bee competitions to be among 250 children who came to Washington DC to spell it out.As they learn there can bee only one!The trailer for this film had me hooked and did a great job of selling such an usual subject for a film.I went to see the film and wasn't let down it was a very interesting ride.The odd time, it slightly dipped a little and lost a little of it's momentum simply because it was trying to follow so many characters and occasionally would leave one when it should have lingered for a bit and vice versa.
It is interesting as a look at the Spelling Bee culture, but it is more interesting to look at it in terms of the 7 or 8 families we get to see. The work ethnic in all is amazing as is the acceptance that, in America, you will succeed if you work hard.The film is full of praise for the opportunities in the developed world.The parents and the children really bring this out and I was glad to see that none of the parents were overly pressurising their children to do something they didn't want to do (at least, not on camera).
The lessons of the first half are not overly inspiring but they are interesting.Whether it be first generation Americans, well off Indian families, single parent families, whatever the children all believe that they can try hard and be happy.If this attitude were true of the majority of the children in the west, our schools would not be hiring security guards and the like to try and hold the crumbling facilities together.
The film also manages to be funny, whether it's the characters of the kids or the unintentional stuff watch the little girl pop her eyes when she hears her work, or another misspell a word and react `cravat? cr*p!. However the final segment is nail biting and is quite heart breaking at times.
Overall this film is less about the Spelling Bee than about what it represents.It seems to represent a chance to better yourself with education a chance that may not exist everywhere.In America, they say, you have the chances and it is up to you to work hard.The children are all a likeable bunch for one reason or another and I wish I had some of their approaches to life.
score /10
bob the moo 26 October 2003
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw0895828/35631
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