Lynden

This compelling documentary follows the efforts of a 17-year-old Black girl to organize a Black Lives Matter march in her small, conservative, evangelical Christian town of Lynden, WA. But this is not a one-sided portrayal. The filmmakers deeply explore the beliefs of both the BLM protesters, the gun-toting counter-protesters, the religious leaders, and others in this tiny, white, complicated town. It's a microcosm of what is happening in the US on the national stage. It is deeply uncomfortable, provocatively insightful, oddly hopeful and all around beautiful. Everyone who lives and votes in the US needs to see this film.

This story is one that's happening everywhere. Whether you're conservative or liberal, it feels like the other side of a debate shuts down and stops listening the moment something they don't like pops up. That is put starkly in the spotlight when the younger generation of this small town try to talk about and stand up for themselves and their experiences. This documentary does a good job of showing the different perspectives that exist in the town of Lynden. If you want to see how some wonderful young people became the thread of change for a small town in America, this is the documentary for you.

Lynden offers an incredible snapshot of the realities of the polarized climate in small-towns across the country. The film primarily follows the experiences of Ethiopia-born Amsa Burke, who was adopted by a white family in Lynden, a predominently white, Christain town in Northwest Washington. The film focuses on Amsa's efforts to bring awareness to racial injustice and the racism she has experienced as within her rural community. In doing this, the filmakers also follow the narrative of another Lynden local, Wylin, who films supplemental footage so that 'the liberal media won't twist the narrative.' While we see the two sides of the polarized divide, the filmmakers also engaged with local community leaders (pastors, shop owners, civilians.) who are grappling with the outcomes of Lynden's (deeply divided) march for social justice, some of whom are spurred into further action for this phase of the Civil Rights Movement within their own community, and others who choose to ignore it in favor of their Christian, nationalistic values.

Lynden offers a poingant picture of the relaities facing the current American divide and offers hope in the strength and courage of some of our youngest civilans and activists.

I was lucky enough to see the premier of this beautiful movie recently in Seattle and cannot recommend it highly enough. It takes on an intense, devisive conversation with grace, openness and a yearning to listen as well as to educate and inform.

The film is beautifully photographed, extremely well paced, and punctuates its intense storyline with humor and pathos. It is a shame that many of the people who have already made their mind up about this story will likely refuse to watch it, because I was very impressed with the filmmakers sense of balance in this tricky narrative. Highly recommended!

After watching this film, it made me wonder how many small towns like this are facing and learning to deal with similar struggles - big questions around race, identity, and what the future looks like.

One reviewer mentioned how divided we are - I'd say it seems less like division, and more like two groups of people living in totally separate realities. One group doesn't see anything wrong with declaring "all lives matter". Of course, all lives do matter. But for generations, black lives have mattered less, and it's clear America has never fully reckoned with its past.

This documentary does a wonderful job of examining what it's like living in a town where being "nice" is heralded as one of the highest goods, a town where certain members would rather not fully examine their role in creating an environment where folks from marginalized communities feel less than. It's also about people who are taking imperfect steps (for truly, these are the only steps we can take) towards healing and towards understanding.