OT: OUR TOWN
Directed by: Scott Hamilton Kennedy.
Produced by: Kennedy.
Director of Photography: Kennedy.
Edited by: Charis Figler & Kennedy.
Music by: Kevin Haskins & Doug DeAngelis.
Released by: Film Movement.
Country of Origin: USA. 82 min. Not Rated.

OT: Our Town is an affecting tale that focuses not, as one may readily think, on shootouts, baby-daddy dramas, or drug deals associated with the city of Compton. Instead, first-time documentarian Kennedy takes us inside Dominquez High School, an institution where school sports take precedence over learning, the number of drop-outs are increasing and the students' hopes for the future diminishing. English teacher Catherine Borek and her colleague Karen Greene decide to put on the school's first play in 20 years. She convinces a group of her students to participate in their own version of the time-treasured tale, Our Town by Thornton Wilder. Borek sees more than just geographical and ethnic stereotypes in her students and Kennedy expresses this expertly as he intersperses snippets from the 1977 television version (starring Hal Holbrook) and sets up his film in the same three acts of the play: "Daily Life," "Love and Marriage," and "Death." In doing so, he captures the students’ sense of loneliness, isolation and desire to fit in. Watching these charismatic and endearing young people struggle to find meaning in their lives while managing to connect with the play makes for truly compelling drama. By film's end they've drawn you into their town and made you want to stay. Funny, sad and just plain inspiring, this would be my Oscar pick for best documentary of the year. Tanya Chesterfield, Book Reviewer, (Barnes & Noble.com)
August 15, 2003