The Clearing

Story told by a 16 year old teenager, who on his birthday left his home to live on a protest site, in a wood, outside Edinburgh. Joe, two months later also left school, quite unhappy and frustrated by the nature of the education provided there, not fulfilling his inquisitive and perhaps different mind. This may or may not be related to his dyslexia, a condition that certainly makes succeeding at exams more challenging and can be related to a sense of failure and frustration.

It is rather difficult not to see Joes story from a parents point of view, even though, seeing this way is in itself limited and limiting. But one must appreciate that every child or teenager is born with a set of unique talents and should be helped to grow and mature to become an independent and fulfilled person. The school system is normally partly in charge of this, but too often there are easy options to opt out of their duties.

Some might succeed none the less, possibly more so than if they had remained in school, as there is always room for intelligent, critical, and different minds in this world. But how much danger lay ahead? The music chosen reflects that sort of anxiety however Romane and Joe see this more lightly, perhaps they are right. Joe was happy living in the wood.

Oh yes, there is also the idea that perhaps, we should all live a wood :-). I like very much the switch of topic from banks crashing all over the place and the view of self sufficient accommodation in full nature. Maybe that would be a better option, for the individuals, society as a whole and environment. So see you there sometimes maybe.

Higher quality viewing availbale here (this file is 380MB, and youtube reduced the quality so much!):
http://www.vimeo.com/3213085

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• teenager
• youth
• protest.dyslexia
• Bilston Glen
• Bilston wood
• environment
• Edinburgh
• Joe Douglas
• Romane Allanson
• Lorene Amet
• Skymaker69

[Skymaker69]

Yes- and I think this is madness- I thought and thought about this- why on earth do we have to throw good food away when there are people starving???! Because if we were to give it for free it would corrupt our economical system- our system is based on money making - capitalism and not fairness. I like when I hear, I think we have enough, because a natural tendency is to get everything there is to take, well beyond what is needed.

[limeslimey]

When I was in college-dumpster dive green beans and cherry pie!

[leoleponge]

It is a shame food that hasn't expired is being thrown away that should be given to people who go without.

[leoleponge]

What a shame.

[adelfred]

Thanks for sharing!!!

[adelfred]

Remember what I brought home when I was delivery boy, it is incredible what was meant to be thrown away. And not just things that had exceeded the expiriation date, but food with slightly damaged wrapping etc...

[lafemdilletante]

very interesting!

(for any viewers uncomfortable with the idea of getting food from a dumpster-

when i worked at a grocery- we threw out (thousands it added up to-monthly)perfectly fine food every day- rather than mark it down because it wasnt perfectly fresh-not a thing wrong with it