Michael_Elliott
Living on One Dollar (2013) ** (out of 4)Four friends traveled to a rural part of Guatemala where they try to survive on what's basically less than one dollar. The extreme poverty of the area is the main focus of this documentary.I'm sure everyone involved with this documentary had great intentions but the end result just didn't really work with me. I couldn't help but feel that this film was done by privileged people with money who wanted to go shine a light on poor people. I'm sorry but I just never felt like I was watching something real and instead it just seemed too hokey and fake.Perhaps I'm 100% wrong. Heck, I might be since I've never been to this location or worked with any of these people. With that said, if what I was watching was real then it just didn't come across that way on screen. The film really did seem to be scripted as we get the good stuff, we get the drama, we get the downfall, we get the miracle that saves the day, we get another tragedy and then the happy ending. It just never did work with me.
jenniness
It's very seductive to judge this documentary, based on what we think a 'moral documentary' should be look like.During the film I found myself to be distracted, and having trouble to sympathize AT ALL with the guys. There was no sense of emergency at all, it was an adventurous experiment within a time frame that was fixed, so no matter how much they would screw it, there was clearly a safe exit waiting for them after the two months.The moments that the film does reach its peaks is when they talk, interact with the people from the village. Those were the highlights of the film, able to pull me back into the film. The stories from Anthony, Rosa and Chino were eyeopening and humbling. They showed a community of generous people who you wish well and triggered an urge in me to help.I could not care more or less about the 4 students, because I know they will be fine, and after their adventurous experiment, they'll get back to their lavish lifestyles, and probably get an honorable remark for their work (which they did), get a good job and live a good life. So if you would judge it as a moral documentary, it has major flaws, evoking little sympathy, with a shallow plot. I also kept on wondering - will they donate some money after they have finished their project?But if you would judge it as it is, a student project, initiated by four college boys, who, I assume are no filmmakers, with the premise to 'live their hypothesis' as part of a school research, then I would take my hat off for their effort.
curtis martin
I will assume that the intent of the kids involved in this was good, and I'll admit that there is a remote possibility that the remaining hour--had I been able to get to it--may have turned things around.But I doubt it. All I was seeing were some over-privileged boys who thought it'd be a lark to do this as a school project (and I'm sure the young filmmaking crew were doing the same).The first thing that struck me, besides the OVERWHELMING shallowness and self absorption of the kids involved (probably normal for their age) was that their premise WAS STUPID. They were going to rural Guatemala with enough money already in pocket to average out at a daily allowance of $1 a day each. That is NOTHING LIKE having to WORK and EARN at least a dollar a day in rural Guatemala and THEN live on it.So basically what they were doing was living on $1 of WELFARE a day--an option the working Guatemalans did not have.The whole thing--at least in the first 20 minutes that I was able to stomach--was so glib, condescending and self-congratulatory that I can't really think of an ending that would make me hate it less.How do people get the money to make and distribute stuff like this? Trust fund?
aramii
I was impressed that these kids decided to do something that could have been dangerous, as one of them did get sick and needed medicine, and admitted that they were lucky enough to have emergency medicine to take care of it, while most of the people in Pena Blanca would not have had it.I liked that the people in Pena Blanca were open to speaking their own opinions and talked about what life is really like for them. There is a wonderful pride, and joy, in their lives while it is also a real struggle.I think that the negative reviews that this documentary has received are probably from a people that have never even tried to live on one dollar a day, or lived in a foreign culture, and just like to complain about people that do try to make a difference. These kids weren't out to change the world or lecture people on what they should do, they just wanted to show that they cared, their lives are much easier (as they mentioned a few times) and this is how a large amount of people in this world have to survive. I've lived in China, trust me, they are right. If people think these are just rich kids who are taking it easy, go and try it yourself. I have a feeling you'd be calling mommy in a week and crying to come home. I respect these 4 boys for sticking it out and learning how tough it can be to be poor and undernourished.
AD
