Living on One Dollar

I want to start off by saying that I don't know anything about film making as some of the other reviewers, BUT these 4 young men did a great job with this film. I did not lose interest once. I feel this is great documentary for all young teens and adults as well to watch. I feel that we as Americans get so caught up our daily activities and all of the opportunities that we get on a daily basis that we forget how the majority of this world really lives. I think that this movie was very inspiring and really motivated me to want to do more. I try already to help the needy, but I don't feel that I am ever doing enough. Thank you to the young men who made this, I am happy to share this with my children and other family members. We are so fortunate to live where we do and get the opportunities that we have. I also think that in making this documentary that these young men made more than a little difference in the lives that they filmed and the lives of those watching. It really does only take one to make a difference, no matter how small someone feels that difference was.

What a wonderfully humbling & memorable documentary! I watched this along with an entire high school campus in our attempt to share with teens what true poverty looks like. This documentary does not try to overdo anything. It's simple, concise, and impactful. It's a piece that gives one a new perspective in how to look at life and the hardships that we all have to endure. If one thinks his/her life is hard, this documentary may very well serve as a starting point to help an individual see that most hardships that many of us perceive truly do pale in comparison to what over 1 billion people in the world have to live with everyday. It's a great documentary to share with people regardless of age, race, gender, and class level. Watch it and tell people about it. Perhaps, together, many more people will become compassionate enough to help others who truly need our help.

To all those who rates it extremely low:

"Oh it's just some rich boys condescending toward the extreme poor" - If trying to raise awareness of extreme poverty is condescension, then all charities are to some extent condescending toward the poor as well. The fact is, helping someone in need DOES NOT EQUAL to condescending. And if you've actually finished the film, you should be able to see how much respect the boys are paying to the people.

"Oh they're not replicating the true poverty situation enough" - Yes, perhaps they didn't replicate 100% of real extreme poverty. Yet, is it that necessary? No! I believe the contrast is already there, sufficient to inspire someone who has never seriously imagined what's it like to live on $1 per day, and to raise awareness on what's happening to the everyday lives of 1.1 billion people.

"Rendered the lives of Guatemalan people as two-dimensional" - Dude it's just a documentary under an hour, what do you expect? Too long and people may lose interest and patience to watch, too short and people complain for lack of depth. You really don't need that much "3D character portrayal" to imagine what's it really going on in Guatemala, do you?

All in all, it's an inspiring film that raised awareness of world's extreme poverty through the lenses of first-world kids. Sure, it's not perfect, but it did inspire many who watched it, and it raised a good amount of charity funding as well, I believe. In short, it's making an impact to the world, unlike many blockbusters which simply provided instant gratifications.

If only everyone donates a tiny bit of their monthly salary to a good charity, the poorest would be much better off. We need more films like this.

Lets get to brass tacks. The peer reviewed work show the main premise, that "1.1 billion people around the world live on less than one dollar a day" is FALSE. It is a plan and simple lie. The VAST majority of that 1.1 billion are engaged in activities where they earn, create or barter for on average US cost of living equivalent of $50 a day. In this film we see farmers who are growing US equivalent $25 or $50 a day, owning or renting their home for a portion of their farm production, eating that food, and spending the $1 on other. How is someone who is bartering $100 worth of food they grow each month for rent, and eating $10 worth of food they grow each day: "living on $1 a day???" And where is relative cost of living taken into account? Do you know what a pound of rice and a pound of lentils sells for in S.E asia? About 1/15th the cost in the US.

And what is with all the 8-10 star reviews being from single use accounts? Sounds shilly to me.

Following the mold of Morgan Spurlock, 4 college grads spend 8 weeks in the impoverished Guatemalan hills. They live on a dollar a day. An entirely predictable consequence of malnutrition and sickness ensues, while your heart latches on to the children and hardworking townspeople who live in that reality.

On the surface, it'd appear this movie is trying to pull your heartstrings. And perhaps it is. But what is most remarkable about "Living on One Dollar" is how well this little documentary is made. It's narrative is perfectly developed, it's tone perfectly shaped. The pace sails along wonderfully, never getting itself stuck by trying to be overly emotional. The photography is beautiful, too.

If this is what's to come of a generation of young filmmakers, I'm very excited.