Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Amazing internet documentary full of compassion, curiosity.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
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Where to Watch
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Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In the documentary LO AND BEHOLD, REVERIES OF THE CONNECTED WORLD, filmmaker Werner Herzog attempts to explore the nature of the internet, its origins, and the unusual, wonderful, and sometimes upsetting ways in which it's been used. He recalls the first computer-to-computer communication, in which only the first two letters of the word "log" were transmitted before the system crashed. He tells of a program that allows users to manipulate models of cells and molecules, possibly searching for cures to terrible diseases. But he also shares a harrowing story of online harassment after a family tragedy and introduces a community of people who are literally allergic to electromagnetism and must be isolated from all computers and devices.
Is It Any Good?
This documentary is one of Herzog's best; it's thoughtful yet entertaining, amusing yet heartbreaking, and sometimes simply beautiful. And it should give web-savvy viewers plenty to think and talk about. At one point, Herzog asks "does the internet dream of itself?" and, through a series of interviews, he spends the rest of the movie exploring that question.
While the film's segments, each with its own chapter title, may not seem connected, they all look at ways in which humans interact with computers -- the ways in which emotions figure into technology. Herzog asks the developer of a soccer-playing AI robot if he loves his creation, and the answer is yes. The people with allergies are in genuine pain, and Herzog's heart goes out to them, as well as to the victims of harassment. True to Herzog's style, the film isn't rigidly structured, but rather organically follows the filmmaker's own curiosity and compassion. Along with the great director's Grizzly Man, Encounters at the End of the World, and Cave of Forgotten Dreams, Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World is a must-see.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World's segment on bullying. What's the effect of the bullying? Is it possible to imagine what the bullies were thinking? What do kids need to know about safe online behavior?
In the movie, what are the cited examples of a healthy media diet? What are some examples of unhealthy uses of computers and the internet? Are some types of screen time better than others?
How are compassion and curiosity conveyed in the movie? Why are those important character strengths?
According to the movie, what does the future hold? Does it seem scary or hopeful? What other things could happen in the future?
Do you consider any of the interviewees to be role models? Do any of them inspire you to follow in their footsteps?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 19, 2016
- On DVD or streaming : November 22, 2016
- Cast : Lawrence Krauss , Kevin Mitnick , Elon Musk
- Director : Werner Herzog
- Studio : Magnolia Pictures
- Genre : Documentary
- Topics : STEM
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Curiosity
- Run time : 98 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : brief strong language and some thematic elements
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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