Nursery University (2008/Docurama DVD)
Picture:
C Sound: C+ Extras: C Documentary: C
Child
care is a serious problem in this country and no matter what is done, test
scores drop, drop out rates grow and the society suffers. In this, you’d think those who could afford
the best for their children would have no problem getting their child into the
best schools. Amazingly, there is a
shortage of the best schools and you can see people who are otherwise supposed
to be from “polite society” put on the defensive in Marc H. Simon/Matthew
Makar’s Nursery University (2008), a
new documentary set in New York about couples desperate and with all the money
needed to get their kids the best and still
having trouble doing so.
Running
90 minutes, this is a thorough look at the events, yet despite that, it becomes
very predictable, strained and even annoying that this production assumes the
parents behaviors are normal, appropriate and never once questions the idea of
getting into one of the schools with big waiting lists. Questions that go unanswered include why
(especially in this tough economy) more such schools not sprung up with all
this money out there? How entitled can
people get? Are these schools that much
better? Are the schools so good that the
effects of their care can backfire on the children in the long run?
Instead,
it becomes an upscale reality TV exercise where we are asked to blindly side
with them, hope they’ll do well and not worry whether they take for granted
they are lucky (especially these days) to have the lives they have. I am happy to see any child get the best care
they can get, though we know too many are not and it goes beyond money, yet
after a certain point, I was not siding with any of the parents who were not
making it in when getting into one of these schools seemed to be more about
them than their children. Again, the
directors go on as if we should be brain dead as to some more important issues
or points here, which is this work’s ultimate failure. If it so anxious to be a guide on how to get
into one of these schools, then be a Special Interest title and not one
disguised as a documentary.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image has some good color, but is softer
throughout than even I expected for whatever reason. There are some aliasing errors at times, but
not as bad as some recent documentaries.
The Dolby Digital 2.0 sound is on the stereo side, with location audio
that can have its issues, yet is the default highlight of the release. Extras include text director bios, trailer,
outtakes, Q&As with those involved, tips on how to get into one of these
schools and an audio commentary track by the makers.
- Nicholas Sheffo
