Educational Media Reviews Online

The documentary film It’s Basic is a well-constructed piece of advocacy for the concept of universal basic income (UBI), with a particular focus on the effects of such policies on parents. The film comprises a series of interlinked interviews with participants in various pilot programs, interviews with the mayors and officials that implemented those programs, and selected highlights from past politicians, activists, and detractors that show how long these ideas have been in circulation.

As a piece of storytelling, the film is masterful in connecting themes, showcasing the struggles of the parents who were interviewed, how the various guaranteed income programs allowed them to advance their situation and make a better life for their children, and using their situation and experiences as implicit refutations of the usual talking points used against these programs. Taken as a whole, the film is a powerful argument for the basic utility of UBI as a tool to combat poverty and to lift people up.

As an educational tool, this film has potential as the subject of a project or deeper dive into specific themes. The nature of the film makes it difficult to cut up into clips to be shown in a class, but as assigned viewing there are a lot of elements that could serve as grist for papers or projects for a wide array of classes, including economics, sociology, political science, and history. It is also an excellent example of activism for classes on civics or political outreach.

Awards:
Best Documentary, DTLA Film Festival

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