We Are Columbine

High school is such a strange beast: It seems to be a much-romanticized time in one's life from a nostalgic perspective, yet when one is actually living within its hallways often the only goal is getting done and getting out. This is before complete and utter horror/tragedy is added into the mix. Considering all those factors, as well as the unflinching (yet also careful) style of filmmaker Laura Farber (herself a survivor of that day), "We Are Columbine" is one of the most affecting documentaries I have ever seen.

For a basic summary, this doc focuses on 4-5 students (and a couple of teachers) who were inside Columbine High School on April 20, 1999, when the two gunmen unleashed their reign of terror. The participants are interviewed extensively about their thoughts/feelings before, during, and after that day, as well as taken back to the school itself (many for the first time since graduation), producing an obvious flood of emotion as they re-enact their movements of that day.

Obviously, the Columbine tragedy (much like 9/11) will also stick out in the historical registers because the heinous act was the first of its kind (or at least the first that received enormous attention). Though school shootings have (horrifically, sadly, and intensely frustratingly) become more commonplace since 1999, 20 years ago it was something that just hadn't happened before on that type of scale. Because of that, it is indelibly burned into the cultural zeitgeist.

I think the hallmark of "We Are Columbine" is how Farber chooses to focus almost exclusively on the stories of those selected classmates. This really narrows the focus of the piece and makes it a tight treatise on how the event effected them all. In a rather astute decision, Farber spends a decent amount of time establishing who these people were even before 4/20/99, including what the Columbine HS culture was like. This is then contrasted with what their lives are like together, with the shooting incident being the fulcrum point in that transition.

It is absolutely harrowing to hear them tell their own unique, individual stories from that day and see how they deal with that part of their past. While relatively few people have been in that sort of scenario, we have all (for the most part) been to high school, thus making the settings, thoughts, and feelings intensely relatable.

I've seen a number of negative reviews for "We Are Columbine", which baffles me a bit (considered how emotionally affected I was by the material). I think what one must remember is that this doc doesn't set out to provide new technical information about the day of the shooting. Besides the emotions of individuals, no "new information" is unearthed here. But, I will argue, that unearthing of emotions from those who survived and are willing to tell their story is more than enough to hold interest all the way through (the runtime is only about 80 minutes as-is).

Overall, I found "We Are Columbine" to be one of the most emotional, hard-hitting docs I've seen in some time. I compare it to "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" (the Fred Rogers doc) in terms of ability to tap into deep emotions both positive and negative. Don't go in expecting a blow-by-blow description of that day. Instead, allow yourself to be sucked into the stories of the students-turned-adults. If you can do that, you'll likely be as entranced as I was.

"We Are Columbine" takes us on a rollercoaster of emotions, and it's hard to find the right star rating for a documentary about such a tragic event. The film is okay, not outstanding, but it does offer a heartfelt look at the survivors of the Columbine High School shooting. The personal stories and interviews provide a humanizing perspective on the tragedy, which makes it worth watching.

However, it's frustrating that after tragedies like Columbine, the government often refuses to take action to prevent similar events, citing the Second Amendment. It's like they're hugging the Second Amendment tighter than a stuffed teddy bear, forgetting that lives are at stake. The lack of change has allowed other horrifying incidents like Robb, Sandy Hook, and Stoneman Douglas to happen. So, while "We Are Columbine" offers a window into the past, it's a stark reminder of how much work remains to be done to ensure such events are prevented in the future.

Greetings again from the darkness. A great many things changed on April 20, 1999. The "Columbine Massacre", a school shooting (and pipe bombs) that resulted in many deaths and injuries, and subsequent copycats, was broadcast live on television for the world to witness. Laura Farber was a freshman at Columbine High School that fateful day, and now, almost 20 years later, she's a filmmaker taking a look at the fallout from such a traumatic event.

Rather than document the progression of events - something that's already been done numerous times - Ms. Farber enlists four of her former classmates, plus a teacher and the school principal to discuss their memories of the day, and more importantly, the impact it has had on their lives since. Gus was the pot smoking slacker. Jaimi was an athlete whose big sister also attended the school. Amy was a cheerleader and social type, and Zach was a studious soccer player. Mr. Zeyba was a first year teacher at the time, and Mr. DeAngelis ("Mr. De") was the school principal. None are especially anxious to revisit those memories, and without the trust they have for Ms. Farber, they probably wouldn't.

With filming set up at an otherwise unoccupied Columbine High School, each of the participants walks us through where they were that day (cafeteria, classroom, etc) and how they remember things unfolding. News clips and a 911 call from that day are replayed, but filmmaker Farber wisely decides against showing the shooters or even mentioning their names. This is about the survivors and as difficult as the conversations are, we get the feeling it's a cathartic exercise for them. We are stunned to hear that they have spoken very little of that day, even to each other or other classmates. There is an "understanding".

This is a very intimate and personal look at how an unbelievably traumatic event can alter the life path of a person. Gus now expresses himself through his rap music. Jaimi is a nurse who values her time with her wife and kids. Amy is a social worker, and Zach is now a teacher at Columbine High School. Mr. Zeyba continues to teach and Mr. DeAngelis continued on as school principal ... after testing numerous fire alarm signals to prevent flashbacks. Each is giving back in their own way after experiencing something most of us can barely imagine. It may not be a traditionally informative documentary, but it's one that brings us as close as possible to what the survivors feel.

Very well done. I was pleasantly surprised to not hear the names of the shooters once throughout the movie. It was all about the victims, the trauma they've experienced, and the community that has grown from the ashes.

I pray that making this documentary helps each and everyone of you. It was truly an insight on how one person's actions can having last affects. I want to thank each on of you for sharing your story. In today's world unfortunately we need to keep one eye open for quick exits. Love and prayers Jennifer