Look Away, Look Away (2021) Film Review | Movie-Blogger.com

There’s an inevitable discussion that arises from a film like Look away, look away. 

The documentary’s approach is fixed on a present dilemma that has already been solved. And perhaps you may think it was a path already marked by the hopeful and fair ending to the struggle. There’s no problem there. Films like these should force you to think and talk, but they, for the sake of progress, should also end well. 

However, as I saw Look away, look away I couldn’t stop thinking of our innate capacity for looking elsewhere when subjects should be talked about and addressed in an orderly fashion. I know the value of history. I know how roots are influential in culture. But how can we stand and force our past to be part of our present when it carries over the darkest way of thinking we have seen in civilized times? 

In this very personal conversation, Look away, look away takes place. The documentary shows the challenge many went through to eliminate the confederate flag from the present. Mississippi was the last state to include it as part of their state flag, and the southern culture was adamant in maintaining it just for the sake of respecting the past. 

It’s uncanny how many turned the other way around when challenged about the birth of such a symbol of slavery, and racism. But it happens. The film shows two sides from very logical points of view. Also from the ones that are not so logical. Extremism is domestic as well, and this is something many people can’t afford to believe.

The film is told from the perspective of Patrick O’Connor, director and writer. He addresses people involved as part of an ecosystem and doesn’t leave anyone out. In the discourse he bluntly shows, there isn’t a declaration of enemies. The “dark side” is revealed through a very selfish attitude that it’s hard to digest in a calm conversation. 

What’s interesting about Look away, look away is that it doesn’t serve an agenda. It may look like it is, but the basics of human decency and community are thoroughly analyzed, and displayed intelligently by O’Connor in his script. This isn’t a radical Black Lives Matter speech, or a communist manifesto monologue. This is more of progressive POV that’s set on going forward in our way of thinking about history and accepting what happened and acting. 

Because let’s face it. We don’t always agree with ”cancel culture”. I know I don’t. Some parts of the past I choose to ignore. But what I wouldn’t do is be proud of something hateful, ignorant and violent. What one side asked for regarded the removal of a symbol that means many things, including slavery and racism. They are not asking people to deny it happened. 

And this is where that difference stands. And yes, I’m proud to be part of that difference. That discourse in which community won, and tradition lost a limb. If you choose to ignore those who walk beside you, then how can you call yourself part of your community? O’Connor asks the right questions in his film, and he asks them to the proper players. 

In the end, there are no victories. Racial violence is still going on and the fight isn’t over. However, there are some battles that have been won. It’s what makes a cause stronger. Eliminating the confederate flag from Mississippi’s state flag doesn’t seem like a big deal, but I can assure you it is. Look away, look away makes you part of something bigger, and this is what these kinds of films should do.

Founder of Screentology. Member of the OFCS. RT Certified Critic

Dog dad.