OSCAR NOMINATED FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM! Writer-director Sheila Nevins’ documentary ABCs of Book Banning opens with the “100-years young” Grace Linn speaking in protest at a Florida school over recent book bans. Within the last 10 years, 37 states have implemented harsh book bans within multiple districts, removing over 2000 books. Book banning has always been a center of controversy. The recent bans have received heightened attention due to the subjects and themes of the most commonly banned or restricted literature. Books with themes such as race, representation of the LGBTQ community, the Civil Rights Movement, and even the Holocaust have found themselves completely removed from schools across the country, most prominently in Florida. Nevins and co-directors Trish Adlesic and Nazenet Habtezghi seek to expose this book-banning epidemic through those most impacted: the students.
“…seek[s] to expose this book-banning epidemic through those most impacted: the students.”
Grace Linn’s protest speech is a solid opening to the film and the freedoms denied by book-bans. ABCs of Book Banning then cuts to a montage of banned books such as Maus, The Life of Rosa Parks, and various texts removed from school libraries and curricula. The focus on the kids separates this from other politically charged documentaries. Most of the interviews featured are students discussing the removed books and the dangers of limiting knowledge. The team of directors uses these young people to drive home the narrative that they suffer most from book banning, and as a result, future generations will lose perspective.
Book bans are a massive topic and something at the core of many conversations within the education community. ABCs of Book Banning does an excellent job summarizing the significant details in just under a half-hour. It speaks volumes about the importance of increasing perspectives through literature, especially at an early age. The film needs a more precise call to action in the climax; ending with the conclusion of Linn’s speech could raise the emotional stakes. But, the core themes remain, and the awareness of knowledge lost is acute from the opening to the credits. It’s a relevant documentary worthy of its Oscar nomination and, hopefully, win.
"…a relevant documentary worthy of its Oscar nomination..."
