Parents' Guide to Greatland

Directed by Dana Ziyasheva, Greatland brings viewers into a candy-coated world of inclusivity and acceptance. But not everything is as it seems, because under the veneer of togetherness is a society bent on conformity and weaponizing love. Unfortunately, the film is confusing and conflicting: It seems to want to both promote inclusive imagery and denigrate it at the same time. It appears to be trying to suggest that conformity, even regarding positive attributes, is bad for humanity, but it doesn't make that point succinctly enough. Instead, the point gets lost in simply trying to figure out the world Greatland is trying to build.

With so many different titles for people -- including Optimists, Altruists, Clerks, and Philanthropists -- it's hard to know what title carries what meaning. Any satirical punches are hidden under other aspects of Greatland that grab viewers' attention, such as people marrying inanimate objects, Ulysses getting a rabbit as a son, and Ugly Duck's father, who was turned invisible because he decided to conceive Ugly Duck through sexual intercourse, which is seen as taboo in Greatland. The sheer number of colors and the strangeness that make up Greatland are bound to give you a headache, but you will finish watching with tons to think about. The only concern is whether the film did a good job of explaining itself.