Parents' Guide to

ReGeneration

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Rousing docu encourages teens to think, question, and act.

Movie NR 2012 80 minutes
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What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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What's the Story?

Directed by Phillip Montgomery and narrated/produced by Ryan Gosling, REGENERATION analyzes some of the problems going on in the world today -- including war, climate change, stagnating wages, debt, and more. It wonders why, if things weren't even this bad in the turbulent 1960s, are today's teens so complacent and apathetic? The film suggests that media saturation is a huge culprit. Interviewing experts, artists, parents, and teens, ReGeneration doesn't offer very many specific solutions to the problem it poses, but it does encourage teens to understand what's going on and speak up. The smallest effort may make a small difference, but no effort at all will change absolutely nothing.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

With ReGeneration, Montgomery has created a well-rounded documentary. She goes straight to the top with experts like Noam Chomsky and personalities like Talib Kweli and deconstructs the way that people -- and especially teens -- absorb information from the media. According to the movie, this information is mainly just advertising of some kind. So, though teens think they can be happy by buying stuff, it only makes them feel emptier, and they don't know why.

When faced with today's problems, an entire generation has no idea how to respond. After getting sharp opinions and ideas from the experts, Montgomery's sympathetic camera goes to the teens and to two young parents, who barely even have the ability to understand their feelings, much less figure out what to do. While ReGeneration may not be able to offer any specific help, it does leave off on a positive note, saying that change is possible -- and attainable -- if people simply do something, even something small.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about a healthy media diet. If the media is responsible for getting kids and teens not to think about world issues, how can critical thinking be encouraged?

  • What are some of the solutions ReGeneration suggests? What are some other possible solutions to the problems the movie mentions?

  • Does the movie make you feel hopeful or pessimistic? Why?

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