Give Me Liberty is also about those who have no choice but to rely on kindness. It gives real voices to fully fleshed characters (played mostly by phenomenal non-professional actors) often ignored or rarely seen under this light, from the disabled and sick needing specialized rides to untouchables, disadvantaged or marginalized like an isolated community of older and poorer immigrants. It particularly did a great job not using disabled as props (or worse having and Oscar-hopeful thespian playing one!), but it candidly establish them with their attitudes, glimpse of their daily lives at talent shows, doing arts & crafts, or even partying in a great mesmerizing and eloquent disco scene that clashes with the rest of the film for maximum effect.
In addition, Give Me Liberty do what so many movies attempt to do on a grand scale by bringing it back to the real thing: the people. Sure, there is a lot of arguing and yelling between hugs and love – not necessarily lovers’ love, but people love and human friendship – but, by throwing its characters in different cultures and back, it shows us that we are all one and the same. Considered “normal” or not, no matter how different we look, we move, where we live or what we think of people, we have so much more in common once we get to know each other truly.
It’s one of the greatest movies in years about this powerful notion of humanity in the vein of a Ken Loach film. We see the injustices. We see many problems modern society created and how people like those in the film are suffering the consequences of lack of health funding or various social issues. Give Me Liberty, is one of the most sensitive, compassionate, and poignant movies of the year. Although it is officially classified as a comedy, as it is filled with hilarious and entertaining moments, it is so much more and will make you feel a whole spectrum of emotions. Give Me Liberty is a humanist film at heart with a bona fide independent spirit.
"…bringing it back to the real thing: the people"
