I am a teacher and a strong supporter of the free speech message of this doc, but I also think it could have been presented more effectively. I had not heard of the case and didn't appreciate it taking so long to dribble out the story of what actually happened at Rio Rancho. I ended up Googling it. The storytelling was too convoluted and I had to work hard to maintain my frustration at the situation, the lives involved and the greater impact on society and not the film itself.

definitely worth watching for anyone who appreciates the true nature of democracy

I usually try to rate and review documentaries based on their production and style rather than on their subjects and content. I have to make an exception in this case.While I'm not unconditionally in love with the style of this film, its message is crucially important.Watch it today and remember it next time you have any opinion to express or creativity to share.

I like the message here and think this is a well done documentray. It's hard to believe what happened during the passed decade in America, the Land of the free, and I hope we'll remember everything and at least take a lesson (as a cynic, I doubt that we will). I am all about self-expression and having the right to dissent at any time. I can't help, however, but to note that the word "Poetry" is being used very loosely here. Most of the poetry sounded like ramblings and hip hop style and didn't really meet my definition. I keep a high standard for the word, I guess.

Although this is a really important and often ignored topic, I was a little disappointed with the editing style. There are several places where I couldn't understand what was going on because of the artistic decisions to jump around a lot and play sounds over sounds under a voice-over, and I ended up often unable to understand the voiceover. I also wish the organization had been a little easier to follow. I thought this was mostly a film about poetry, instead it's about free speech, which is also interesting, but I was really excited to hear about young people, poetry, and what's happening in high schools in respect to poetry. I wish it had been more clearly labeled as a documentary about liberal free speech (there's not really much talk about when conservatives are censored) with a center story about a high school in New Mexico. It's interesting, well-informed, but also significantly one-sided. A side I happen to agree with, and it doesn't pretend to be absolute truth, but for a video about free speech, it would be nice if stavros had decided to give a little more balance to the story.

It's funny how they can praise you when you speak from the gut and dehumanize you when you speak from the heart.