Kids + Money 2008
Distributed by Bullfrog Films, PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547; 800-543-FROG (3764)
Produced by Lauren Greenfield, Allison Amon and Deanna Mehling
Directed by Lauren Greenfield
DVD, color, 33 min.
Jr. High - Adult
Adolescence, Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology, American Studies
Date Entered: 07/31/2009
Reviewed by Nicole Cooke, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJAt first glance one might wonder why a video about kids and money is necessary or relevant, and wonder how such self absorbed and annoying tweens and teens were selected for this documentary. But give the film some time and its true brilliance emerges - the viewer gets a firsthand look at kids, their absurd purchasing power, the importance of money and material things to their happiness and status, and the psychology behind it all. It's amazing and frightening at the same time. Featuring interviews with adults, psychologists and the kids themselves, a powerful portrait of society's outrageous consumerism is put on full display.
Of excellent audio and video quality, the film is close captioned and comes with an educational guide. Kids + Money is appropriate for a variety of libraries, including school, public and academic. A good accompanying film is Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood.
Awards
- Gold Hugo, Documentary, Chicago International Television Awards
- Audience Award, AFI International Shorts Competition
- Best Documentary Short, KIDS FIRST! Film Festival
- Best Documentary, Michael Moore Award, Ann Arbor Film Festival
- Shorts Audience Award, Newport International Film Festival