
Playing Columbine
2008

2019
Director
Laura Farber
Runtime
78 minutes
Average Rating
No ratings yetSynopsis
The Columbine shootings were a tragic event in American history and have proved a lasting influence in continued acts of violence ever since. In this harrowing account, student and faculty survivors of Columbine, Amy, Gus, Jaimi, Zach, Mr. Leyba and Principal DeAngelis, reflect on the event that has both shaped them and created an unbreakable spirit shared between them. This is not the story of death, but of the process of healing in the face of the unspeakable.
Overall Score
Fair
Category Breakdown
LGBTQ+ Representation
The film suggests a space for nuanced personal expression through its focus on individual identity. However, there is no explicit evidence of non-cisnormative identities within the survivor group.
Gender Representation
The narrative maintains a balanced distribution of agency between male and female perspectives. Survivors of all genders are depicted as active participants in their own recovery processes.
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
The film focuses on a specific localized community in Colorado. There is insufficient evidence to suggest a cast that moves beyond a likely Anglo-Saxon majority.
Religious & Cultural Diversity
The documentary challenges traditional narratives of institutional safety by highlighting social instability. It prioritizes individual emotional truth and community resilience over patriotic platitudes.
Disability Representation
The film provides significant coverage of invisible disabilities, specifically psychological trauma and PTSD. It centers the narrative on the complexity of long-term mental health journeys.
Strengths
Areas for Improvement
AI Analysis
We Are Columbine shifts the focus from the mechanics of violence to the agency of those who survived it. By centering the survivors' psychological resilience, the film disrupts sensationalist media tropes and prioritizes the community's healing process. The documentary succeeds in giving voice to the internal landscapes of survivors, particularly regarding mental health. It moves away from the perpetrators to focus on the people reclaiming their own narratives. While the film offers deep psychological insight, it lacks explicit evidence regarding racial diversity or specific LGBTQ+ identities. The representation remains largely centered on the immediate, localized survivor community.

2008

2021

2021

2014

2016

2017

2018

2017

2016

2017

2021

2022
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!
Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.