Randy Mootooveran

Lit Media.

November 28, 2016

Things to Remember

1.     The film feels more like a person narrating his story as it plays out the visuals right before our eyes. It differs from most documentaries due to having no physical person interacting with the footage or trying to present tit as a story. This is a presentation to a small town devoid of any noteworthy accomplishments aside from one point in its history. It’s fitting that there’s a clear disconnect from the viewer, as it

2.     The filmmaker most likely chose to use an automated voice to communicate how this film deals with discovering a new method to eradicate all traces of life. The voice is meant to sound cold and lifeless because it was that same nature that made the atomic bomb possible, and to illustrate how this town is a place with little knowledge of how the world at large is affected by the events taking place.

3.     I would say its biggest ambition was to build atmosphere using the mechanical voice, decayed area shots, and the absence of any human characters that talk directly to the audience. It aims to be more than a simple film, trying to make you think like you’re observing an abstract piece of artwork.

4.     I would classify it as a factual film with the composition of a fictional work of art. Unlike other documentaries, Things to Remember strives be a unique experience from other films. It’s main focus isn’t just to enlighten us on Oak Ridge and its history, but to make the viewer feel that the detached and cold nature of what was being planned at the time is something that will never leave the town and is reflected from every aspect of the town from its vistas, inhabitants, and the film that enlightens us on its history.