celr This relatively short film is about the consequences of texting and driving and a warning for viewers to not to do it. Herzog has considerable skill in interviewing and assembling the interviews in order to make a point or create a narrative. We can see his artistry here, but we're left wondering: what is it all about, really? Both victims and perpetrators of texting and driving accidents are interviewed. Of course it's what you'd expect: descriptions of the carnage, devastated families and offenders who have to live with guilt for the rest of their lives. These are the kind of scenes that are played out in any fatal accident, no matter what the cause. And except for the particular reason for driver distraction, in this case texting, they are generic to all bad accidents. This exercise in persuasion is powerful, moving, and pointless. Why? Because anyone dumb enough to text and drive wouldn't be watching a Werner Herzog film to get pointers on driver ed. Telling a person not to text and drive is like telling him not to stick his hand in a wood chipper while it's running. You don't warn people like that about the dangers of doing something anyone with half a brain would know from the start not to do, you don't let them drive in the first place.

Theo Robertson I don't know if I'm getting old or I'm getting self righteous when I say I've never really found the appeal of having cell phone/mobile phone . I've got one but is rarely used to send calls only to receive them . Since I only have a cheap one that cost 10 pounds sterling it's difficult to send text on it and have never learned to send text . Astonishing I know but no big deal , and yet some people seem to exist only to receive and send text messages . Has anyone here walked through the busy concourse of an airport and had to dodge numerous idiots with their ugly faces buried in their mobile as they type a text message . If they had brains they'd be dangerous . If they had a car they'd would be potential killers and this documentary by Werner Herzog shows whyFROM ONE SECOND TO THE NEXT isn't perhaps a fitting title because my reading of the title suggests that it may mean it only takes a second of carelessness of texting to cause irredeemable carnage and lifelong grief to a stranger who has done you no harm and who you didn't know even existed till you ran in to them . Perhaps the title can also mean that the whole universe has changed - and not for the better - for someone within that second ? It's a rather ambiguous title and one that doesn't work very well Judging a documentary by its title is like judging a book by its cover and its content that is of paramount importance . In this case Herzog grabs you right from the start . We're shown a black mother of a child who is the victim and a driver who hit her son while texting . She explains her high hopes for her son who was going to excel at sport but that dream is now over . . There is a knock on the door and she exclaims her son is back from school and you can may be second guess as to what will be revealed next . Sure enough her son's helper has brought him back from school - by pushing his wheelchair . The documentary continues along the same lines . The much loved sister who has been left brain damaged by a texting driver , the blacksmith who has had to give up the job he loved after having vertebrae broken by a texting driver and the daughter who was about to be married and lost her father to a texting driver just before the wedding So far so sad and just in case you aren't moved by these stories of real life tragedy depressing music is played on the soundtrack ( Not sure if I've picked Bob up wrong as to " fake music " but the copy I saw did have a musical track ) and all this is very hard hitting and the emotional equivalent of getting kicked in the teeth . . Strange then that Herzog feels the need to include the stories of two drivers who have killed people while texting . Before you say I'll say it " That's because he's showing the trauma caused to people who have instigated a tragic accident . There lives have been ruined and will have to carry the guilt for the rest of their life " I doubt if that's the point of their inclusion however . What Herzog is doing deliberately or accidentally is making a film about redemption and forgiveness . One instigator of a fatal text driving incident that killed three children from the Amish community receives a letter from the bereaved father telling him that God is watching over him while another fatal instigator is met by the daughter of a man he killed . I'm afraid that if you kill someone it is forever and the more likely response is life long hatred from the families of people you killed especially if it's down to something as stupid as texting while driving which is no different from getting drunk and driving a car . Would we feel sympathy for drunk drivers involved in fatal crashes ? . Of course not and I guess this might be the reason why it hasn't been nominated for an Oscar in the short documentary category

WakenPayne I'm sorry but as a documentary filmmaker Herzog did impress me more than what he does as a narrative filmmaker. This is a very effective documentary that should be shown to everyone in this day and age.First of all I really enjoyed hearing the side of the story not only of the victims, but also of people who have done it. It is almost impossible to not feel sorry for these people. All of them present the heartbreaking effects of texting while driving. I will be absolutely surprised if this does not get nominated for the "Best short Documentary" at the Academy Awards.So if you are up to date in society's technology. Watch this movie. The message is as clear as day but unlike something like a Michael Moore documentary, this time it is genuine.

bob the moo If you have a phone and if you have a car then you have texted on that phone when you have been driving – for the vast majority of people I'd say this is the case. Might just be to read a message or maybe just to type and send a one-word response, but I think a lot of people have done it. It is such a small thing that takes so little time that it is easy to justify and easy to do – in the US I imagine it is even more tempting with long highways, cruise-control and large comfortable vehicles that sometimes feel like they are driving themselves. The consequences of such action is what this film is about and, although some may be put off by the idea of educational programming for schools, let me assure you that this short film is so much more than the standard.The main thing that drew me to it and one of the reasons it is such a strong film is that it is directed by Werner Herzog and he brings to this film the very high standards that one would associate with his feature-length documentaries. Although we (wisely) never hear his side of the interviews, he has a knack for getting people to talk, reflect and open up – not sure how he does it but it works so often. In the four stories we have presented here, he gets such great testimony. The film opens with "I had my brother in my hand" and we see a teenage girl posing half on a kerb with her hand behind her holding the hand of someone who isn't there anymore. It is a grabbing line and it is the best way to start because it never lets you go. The stories are presented factually and there is no fake music or forced sentimentality here, people just speak. For half the stories the film has access to the texters and their victims, for the other two just the victims, but they are all incredibly moving and it is hard not to feel for these people who, one way or another have had their lives completely changed for the worse. It is 35 minutes long but I found it very hard to make it through without hitting pause.The content may sound obvious but, like I say, the manner in which it is constructed and delivered is excellent and it is greatly complemented by the direction and cinematography. For all its sadness, it is a very beautiful film to look at. The definition is high, the colors are perfect and the shot selection and framing is great. We don't just get talking heads, we also get characters in-situ in places, against backdrops; it is perhaps hard to describe but while it doesn't use visually flair or trickery, it is plain and simple a beautiful looking film and worth watching on HD even if your internet connection is a bit slow.It is freely available online and it deserved to be watched. Those that love Herzog's work will find that he is totally present here (this is not some corporate gig for him) but the more important reason for watching is simply how tragic and brutally impacting the film is. Our lives are made up of small, selfish actions where we think of ourselves first and others second – the film makes it incredibly clear that these actions should be put to one side while in control of a 2 tonne block of metal traveling at speed.