Living on One Dollar (2013)
How do 1.1 billion people around the world live on less than one dollar a day? Four young friends set out to research and live this reality. Armed with only a video camera and a desire to understand, they spend just 56 dollars each for 56 days in rural Pena Blanca, Guatemala. They battle E.Coli, financial stress, and the realization that there are no easy answers. Yet, the generosity and strength of their neighbors, Rosa, Anthony and Chino gives them resilient hope. They return home transformed and embark on a mission to share their new found understanding with other students, inspiring and challenging their generation to make a difference.
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I love this movie so much
Sick Product of a Sick System
A Masterpiece!
Great movie! If you want to be entertained and have a few good laughs, see this movie. The music is also very good,
A documentary about living on one dollar but more so about how tough life is in Guatemala. The risk taken to shoot this motion picture, was amazing. To risk your health, to shoot a documentary was outstanding. So too was the heart of the documentary, which is about poverty and financial hardship. I only gave it 9 stars because it could have been 90 minutes long, instead of being just under an hour. Although, Day 56 and a minute a day was also something new and refreshing. Inspirational work guys, well done.
It's very seductive to judge this documentary, based on what we think a 'moral documentary' should be look like.During the film I found myself to be distracted, and having trouble to sympathize AT ALL with the guys. There was no sense of emergency at all, it was an adventurous experiment within a time frame that was fixed, so no matter how much they would screw it, there was clearly a safe exit waiting for them after the two months.The moments that the film does reach its peaks is when they talk, interact with the people from the village. Those were the highlights of the film, able to pull me back into the film. The stories from Anthony, Rosa and Chino were eyeopening and humbling. They showed a community of generous people who you wish well and triggered an urge in me to help.I could not care more or less about the 4 students, because I know they will be fine, and after their adventurous experiment, they'll get back to their lavish lifestyles, and probably get an honorable remark for their work (which they did), get a good job and live a good life. So if you would judge it as a moral documentary, it has major flaws, evoking little sympathy, with a shallow plot. I also kept on wondering - will they donate some money after they have finished their project?But if you would judge it as it is, a student project, initiated by four college boys, who, I assume are no filmmakers, with the premise to 'live their hypothesis' as part of a school research, then I would take my hat off for their effort.
The idea was great and from time to time I did feel the intention to inspire the viewers. However, the documentary was, to me, confusing. People like, Rosa, were being portrayed as extreme poor (and she is), She told the guys she couldn't go to school when she was young. A sad story and I felt her sadness, but then at the end of the documentary suddenly there is this service Grameen,to loan money and BAM everyone is happy and the women in the village are empowered blabla.. and that within an explanation within 3 minutes. Also it felt like the chemistry between the four guys it self was not always that great. I do not have great arguments to back that up, but it felt more the two guys who can speak Spanish versus the guys who couldn't speak Spanish. They probably did had a hard time and I think it is great they raised awareness to the poverty in Guatemala but it did feel shallow. They wanted to explore to much, the locals, their own experience, the loans, the interviews, Chino...It was not focused. The last thing what I found strange is that one of the guys got sick... took medicine they brought from home... and then he is better?? How did he recover, while living in such an environment?
This was a film project that will forever impact and change the lives of the four young men that took the chance to fulfill this project. Reading over the reviews whoever rates this negatively I say to you "uhm, and when was the last time you tried this??" This was an earnest, brave approach, well thought out and done with best of intentions. I believe they have figured out what it takes to live on one dollar a day in one of the poorest countries. The filming was well done (visually gorgeous), you can see the emotion in all of the faces, the families are well represented and I really hope Chico, Rosa , Anthony and the their families continue to do well. This in NOT about "privileged young white boys" or saving "poor foreigners" this is about rolling up your sleeves and seeing the issues where they are. GOOD JOB GUYS and thank you taking the chance to do this.