Movie review: ‘Can I get a witness?’

Release year- 2024
Starring: Sandra Oh, Keira Jang, Joel Oulette
Director: Ann Marie Flemming

From the likes of ‘Mother,’ ‘Don’t look up’ and ‘The Big Year’ which features comedic geniuses Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson who portray the lives of passionate birders, movie creators are upping their delivery on storytelling when it comes to environmental issues. The most recent attempt is the movie ‘Can I get a witness?’

The movie takes a rather sombre approach to the whole environmental protection agenda by addressing some of the direst dilemmas towards achieving sustainable development (a balance between economic development and environmental wellbeing). It does this by stressing that there may be need to uphold stern guidelines in order to achieve a healthy environment or world peace, among other pressing global goals.

The movie follows the journey of a newly-hired teen artist who is required to document the last moments of people who are just about to take their lives as an adherence to a global decision to end life at 50 years old.

While the girl plays out her role alongside a young man who has become accustomed and unfazed at the sight of death, she is grappling with the reality awaiting her at home. As the child of a single mother, she is still faced with the knowledge that her mother will be taking her own life soon since she has reached that prime age of 50.

This movie is a perfect illustration of what it would seemingly take to solve all world problems. There would be need to strictly adhere to regulations which, so far, is not going as planned.

People from around the world converge every now and then to discuss and agree on agendas to move the world forward, agendas that would end oppression, poverty, environmental destruction and to bring people together in partnership to achieve the goals. The agenda that made the effort of summing up all the world problems is referred to as Agenda 2030 which has a list of 17 Sustainable Development Goals meant to be achieved globally by the year 2030. However, even with such an agenda in place, its realisation is still wanting.

On the other hand, the movie highlights the need to strictly adhere to the rules which has resulted in equitable distribution of resources at a global scale thus solving the challenges listed in agenda 2030.

In this new utopian world portrayed in the movie, some things like smart phones have been phased out. Similarly, the use of vehicles has been deemed unnecessary or for very special occasions, water is rationed so that everyone gets an opportunity to enjoy the infinite yet rare commodity.

Cameras have been phased out hence the need for the teenage artist has to document the moments with drawings. Phasing out these items, including travel, is deemed strategic to reducing the pressure on natural resources that had brought about over-exploitation in order to meet an ever-rising demand. This approach to ensuring sustainable consumption and production is captured by Sustainable Development Goal 12 of the agenda 2030.

On the flip side, the movie makes an attempt to show how difficult it could be to exert control on human beings which may be the only way to solve world problems. Many movies and shows, such as ‘The Handmaids Tale’ have highlighted this meticulously showing just how easy it can be to accumulate human rights violations in the name of saving the human race through control.

This is also captured in the movie when the teenage artist suggests that those who are supposed to die should think of escaping what seems to her like a heavy price to pay. However, the character playing her mother (Sandra Oh who played Christina in Grey’s Anatomy) explains to her why it is important to adhere to such laws as much they seem unfair. Sandra does so by showing her the pictures of a once deplorable environment, one frequented by wildfires and other calamities and even brings up her best friend who died in a fire while trying to put it out.

The movie recognises the intricate nature of things, therefore requiring humans to tread carefully and make very difficult decision that would result in a healthier/safer world.

Let me know what you think when you watch the movie: do you see us ever achieving a world that has been portrayed in the movie if there are people known to fly across the world on their private jets for their favourite dessert?

Article edited by the wonderful Harriet Ogayo