Louder Than a Bomb

 

Story:

Louder Than A Bomb chronicles the stereotype-confounding stories of four teams as they prepare for and compete in the 2008 Louder Than a Bomb event. The film captures the tempestuous lives of these unforgettable kids, exploring the ways writing shapes their world, and vice versa. This is not "high school poetry" as we often think of it. This is language as a joyful release, irrepressibly talented teenagers obsessed with making words dance. How and why they do it and the community they create along the way. (From official site)

Review:

Directors Jon Siskel and Greg Jacobs created a gem of a documentary with their film Louder Than a Bomb.  It’s not sleek or highly stylized like a big budget film but it’s up close and intimate, revealing the nature and processes behind student poets seeking an outlet for their lives.

For many, it will be in the vein of competitive documentaries like Spellbound or Wordplay but Louder Than a Bomb tries to look beyond just that factor.  Indeed, the competition’s winner is buried in the credits, consciously hidden so audiences aren’t left with images of victory, just a poetic performance.  The students, and their process, are the focus of this film. Like any number of their poems, the open their lives up to the cameras and honestly reveal who they are.

You can tell the directors didn’t intend on this idea, in fact, Spellbound does seem to have an influence over this film and at times it plays out in a similar manner. There are a few moments where audiences are hit by the surprise of infighting within one group or confused as the film shifts away from victory as a few of the teams lose in the tournament. But, these uneven parts are few and far between, and when Louder Than a Bomb focuses on the students, the film comes alive.

For audiences wanting lyrical verse, you’ll have to wait. Though Siskel and Jacobs generously sprinkle student’s poems throughout, Louder Than a Bomb focuses on the students’ lives first, so you can understand what they write.  By the time the competition begins, their performances have added depth and if you’re not careful, you might find yourself in tears.

And yes, you’ll feel inspired- maybe not to write poetry, but perhaps to embrace some part of you you might have left behind.  It is wonderful to see kids from all backgrounds seemingly coming to the same literary desires. For adults, it gives hope when most the news we here is so bleak.  Of course, it helps that poetry slam is just plain fun.

Reviewed by Matthew Abshire for Documentary Film Online on January 06, 2012

In Conclusion: