Hard to believe, but it is just four more days until high school graduation. Tara and her friends are beginning to feel the nostalgia associated with saying their final goodbyes to teachers and friends, excitedly capturing their comments by creating a reality based video yearbook. Their exuberance remains high with just two more days to go when something terrible has happened. A car accident has left two friends dead and another charged with negligent homicide for driving under the influence. As curious bystanders look on, their faces are intermingled with images of medical personnel and the police, as the total impact of this tragedy gradually unfolds. A highly realistic portrayal of the dangers of adolescent behavior is absolutely guaranteed to make teens think twice about drinking and driving. |
REVIEW
The first four minutes of this cautionary tale are formatted like a student-made graduation video, complete with end-of-year emotions from a diverse group of kids, veiled references to partying, and an almost teary-eyed principal declaring these kids “the best class ever.” The well-acted, often humorous proceedings are interrupted with a scream as the action turns to an accident scene where four students have been in a serious car crash. Four separate threads play out: a medi-lift flight for one victim, a race towards an ambulance for another, the death of one student, and a sobriety test for the driver. The filmmaker uses quick cuts and excellent sound editing to maintain a pace that realistically drives the story. The film wisely focuses viewers’ attention primarily on the driver, leading them to consider the harm drunk driving can cause to others. The differences between the student-made video portion and the accident segment are quite jarring and very effective. The performances are natural and moving. An extremely useful tool to make youngsters aware of the dangers of drinking and driving.
– School Library Journal
November 2007
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