We Are Columbine (2018) User Reviews

catching up

[ferguson-6 · 7/10 · 9 April 2019]

Greetings again from the darkness. A great many things changed on April 20, 1999. The "Columbine Massacre", a school shooting (and pipe bombs) that resulted in many deaths and injuries, and subsequent copycats, was broadcast live on television for the world to witness. Laura Farber was a freshman at Columbine High School that fateful day, and now, almost 20 years later, she's a filmmaker taking a look at the fallout from such a traumatic event.

Rather than document the progression of events - something that's already been done numerous times - Ms. Farber enlists four of her former classmates, plus a teacher and the school principal to discuss their memories of the day, and more importantly, the impact it has had on their lives since. Gus was the pot smoking slacker. Jaimi was an athlete whose big sister also attended the school. Amy was a cheerleader and social type, and Zach was a studious soccer player. Mr. Zeyba was a first year teacher at the time, and Mr. DeAngelis ("Mr. De") was the school principal. None are especially anxious to revisit those memories, and without the trust they have for Ms. Farber, they probably wouldn't.

With filming set up at an otherwise unoccupied Columbine High School, each of the participants walks us through where they were that day (cafeteria, classroom, etc) and how they remember things unfolding. News clips and a 911 call from that day are replayed, but filmmaker Farber wisely decides against showing the shooters or even mentioning their names. This is about the survivors and as difficult as the conversations are, we get the feeling it's a cathartic exercise for them. We are stunned to hear that they have spoken very little of that day, even to each other or other classmates. There is an "understanding".

This is a very intimate and personal look at how an unbelievably traumatic event can alter the life path of a person. Gus now expresses himself through his rap music. Jaimi is a nurse who values her time with her wife and kids. Amy is a social worker, and Zach is now a teacher at Columbine High School. Mr. Zeyba continues to teach and Mr. DeAngelis continued on as school principal ... after testing numerous fire alarm signals to prevent flashbacks. Each is giving back in their own way after experiencing something most of us can barely imagine. It may not be a traditionally informative documentary, but it's one that brings us as close as possible to what the survivors feel.

Not what you expect

[crazyonyou-02466 · 8/10 · 22 April 2020]

This documentary doesn't solely focus on the tragedy that happened April 20,1999 but instead on the lives of a few students that were freshman at the time and what their experiences were before, during, and after the shooting. It was a great perspective to see and I found it just as harrowing as the gory details of that day. I was a freshman in high school at the same time and I remember this day and seeing it all unfold on the news like it was yesterday. I would recommend this film. The only criticism I have is that the film maker didn't tell her story.

Focuses on the healing

[biggrizzly_rc · 7/10 · 9 July 2019]

It's been 20 years since the Columbine High School Massacre, and this documentary was made by one of the survivors, as she sits down exclusively with a handful of others (including her friends) who were willing to revisit that horrible day. The doc does a good job building up to the event, and each person's account remains surprisingly vivid and terrifying even after all these years. Some of the interviewees haven't walked these halls since it happened, so it's chilling to watch them do so. The doc smartly stays away from asking "Why?" And instead focuses on how these people have healed over the past two decades. It feels very therapeutic.

A Glimpse into Tragedy

[natmavila · 7/10 · 13 October 2023]

"We Are Columbine" takes us on a rollercoaster of emotions, and it's hard to find the right star rating for a documentary about such a tragic event. The film is okay, not outstanding, but it does offer a heartfelt look at the survivors of the Columbine High School shooting. The personal stories and interviews provide a humanizing perspective on the tragedy, which makes it worth watching.

However, it's frustrating that after tragedies like Columbine, the government often refuses to take action to prevent similar events, citing the Second Amendment. It's like they're hugging the Second Amendment tighter than a stuffed teddy bear, forgetting that lives are at stake. The lack of change has allowed other horrifying incidents like Robb, Sandy Hook, and Stoneman Douglas to happen. So, while "We Are Columbine" offers a window into the past, it's a stark reminder of how much work remains to be done to ensure such events are prevented in the future.

Thank you for telling your stories

[sassyflapper · 10/10 · 23 July 2020]

I pray that making this documentary helps each and everyone of you. It was truly an insight on how one person's actions can having last affects. I want to thank each on of you for sharing your story. In today's world unfortunately we need to keep one eye open for quick exits. Love and prayers Jennifer

Nothing remarkable.

[movieman86 · 3/10 · 12 May 2019]

I fail to see the point of this documentary. It is basically an interview of four people that were students in the school twenty years ago. Their recollections are vague since it was so long ago, and it's frankly just uninteresting.

No one featured in this film were injured and did not know the shooters or victims. Not to say they weren't affected; I just don't see why it's worth a documentary. If anything this feels like a weird way to remind the public that the Columbine shooting happened, despite the word being part of American vocabulary.

An Emotional Look At The Human Effects Of That Fateful Columbine Day

[zkonedog · 10/10 · 28 April 2019]

High school is such a strange beast: It seems to be a much-romanticized time in one's life from a nostalgic perspective, yet when one is actually living within its hallways often the only goal is getting done and getting out. This is before complete and utter horror/tragedy is added into the mix. Considering all those factors, as well as the unflinching (yet also careful) style of filmmaker Laura Farber (herself a survivor of that day), "We Are Columbine" is one of the most affecting documentaries I have ever seen.

For a basic summary, this doc focuses on 4-5 students (and a couple of teachers) who were inside Columbine High School on April 20, 1999, when the two gunmen unleashed their reign of terror. The participants are interviewed extensively about their thoughts/feelings before, during, and after that day, as well as taken back to the school itself (many for the first time since graduation), producing an obvious flood of emotion as they re-enact their movements of that day.

Obviously, the Columbine tragedy (much like 9/11) will also stick out in the historical registers because the heinous act was the first of its kind (or at least the first that received enormous attention). Though school shootings have (horrifically, sadly, and intensely frustratingly) become more commonplace since 1999, 20 years ago it was something that just hadn't happened before on that type of scale. Because of that, it is indelibly burned into the cultural zeitgeist.

I think the hallmark of "We Are Columbine" is how Farber chooses to focus almost exclusively on the stories of those selected classmates. This really narrows the focus of the piece and makes it a tight treatise on how the event effected them all. In a rather astute decision, Farber spends a decent amount of time establishing who these people were even before 4/20/99, including what the Columbine HS culture was like. This is then contrasted with what their lives are like together, with the shooting incident being the fulcrum point in that transition.

It is absolutely harrowing to hear them tell their own unique, individual stories from that day and see how they deal with that part of their past. While relatively few people have been in that sort of scenario, we have all (for the most part) been to high school, thus making the settings, thoughts, and feelings intensely relatable.

I've seen a number of negative reviews for "We Are Columbine", which baffles me a bit (considered how emotionally affected I was by the material). I think what one must remember is that this doc doesn't set out to provide new technical information about the day of the shooting. Besides the emotions of individuals, no "new information" is unearthed here. But, I will argue, that unearthing of emotions from those who survived and are willing to tell their story is more than enough to hold interest all the way through (the runtime is only about 80 minutes as-is).

Overall, I found "We Are Columbine" to be one of the most emotional, hard-hitting docs I've seen in some time. I compare it to "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" (the Fred Rogers doc) in terms of ability to tap into deep emotions both positive and negative. Don't go in expecting a blow-by-blow description of that day. Instead, allow yourself to be sucked into the stories of the students-turned-adults. If you can do that, you'll likely be as entranced as I was.

Beyond boring

[Rammstein0000001 · 3/10 · 20 April 2019]

Don't know how this has such high reviews. Very very boring and couldn't wait for it to end. Stopped paying attention with 20 minutes left in the documentary.

Touching documentary

[hossicle · 9/10 · 7 December 2020]

Very well done. I was pleasantly surprised to not hear the names of the shooters once throughout the movie. It was all about the victims, the trauma they've experienced, and the community that has grown from the ashes.

Unnecessary and without purpose

[TimDiesel · 2/10 · 24 April 2019]

The effort as a whole comes off as really amateurish and unfocused. Production value is good, but that's about as far as my praise can go for this. Meandering, surface level, and just overall unnecessary. I'm really not sure who this documentary was made for. I honestly kept forgetting it was on and had to remind myself to pay attention.

This movie is not about the shooters but about what the survivors experienced

[officialweirdette · 10/10 · 21 April 2020]

To everyone rating this movie low fail to miss the point about why they don't mention the shooters. This was movie was made by one of the survivors and her and everyone she interviewed didn't want to give the shooters the publicity. Every media outlet when they talk about the columbine shootings always focus on the gunmans and this movie was suppose to be different. This movie gets a 10/10 on my book because they talk give you their genuine take on that day and high school. I really recommend watching this if you want a take on what the survivors of Columbine felt before, during, and after that day.

No new insight into the shootings

[Healing_Process · 4/10 · 27 April 2019]

A documentary that is supposedly made from one of the students. But is too scared to get into the nitty-gritty. No insight into why, no clarification on what happened, and no information you'd think you would get in a documentary like this.

The film mostly allows a handful of students recall everything that happened every step of the way. But 20 years later, this concept is too little too late.

Its unfortunate that the movie doesn't provide any new information for people outside of the time period and people outside of Columbine, Colorado or Jefferson County.

I give it a 4 because after the 40 minute mark, it was interesting to hear how the school had to change things to adapt and counteract after the shootings. And the class of 2002 of how it affected them for years going to school under heavy regulated rules because of the shootings. But the interesting information to useless information ratio was very uneven in this movie.

Don't expect the gory details

[iceylis · 10/10 · 26 April 2019]

First time leaving a review after using IMBD since the site went up. I will admit I rented this documentary with the hopes of hearing all the gory details. You can't blame us for wanting a peak inside such a horrific tragedy because at the end we turn off our TVs and think "wow glad that wasn't me"; however, let me say this documentary had the same exact feeling in a much deeper way without the need of the details. These survivors are not only survivors because of the shooting but because of the wrath that came afterwards. No one cares to dissect or look into it because they're too fixated on learning their pain DURING the occurrence so in a sick sadistic way they can mentally put themselves there. Most of the people interviewed have not spoken about the occurrence since the day it happened and it's so important to listen to what they have to say because it teaches you a lot more than knowing one of the killer's pet's name or hobbies. The perpetrators were not named once- which i applaud. The victims lost were not individually mentioned because the whole purpose is they were ALL victims, that's the whole point. I live 30 mins from Parkland, FL- I was fixated on asking how, why, it's 2018 how can this happen? Well this documentary shows you that it's out of everyone's control- what matters is what happens afterwards. One of the wives of an interviewee was mentioned that she asks her children every night before bed "is there something you'll like to talk about? Maybe something you have questions about in your mind?" And that's so powerful- if you want a change stop chasing the gory or looking into the killer's history to try to find answers, start by working in your own circle and asking people "Are you ok?" And actually listen. Loved this message- We are Columbine will forever represent power and unity.

Trailer better than the actual movie

[joelandrade-57101 · 4/10 · 14 July 2019]

My respect goes to all those former students who participated in this doc. Nevertheless, I feel like this is more a collection of interviews than an actual documentary. It focuses on allowing the individuals being interviewed to relive their 04/20 experience and provides a view from the freshman class but nothing more... It falls short in so many ways and it does not cover key topics such as the environment lived at the time...Good effort but nothing to remember.

This isn't another movie about shooters

[kiwifreund · 9/10 · 5 May 2019]

If you go into this movie expecting to have the shooters' motives rehashed yet again, you will be disappointed. First-person shooter video games are already getting your dollars. This movie was made with the intention of showing the effect of trauma, period. Trauma never ends. It changes, it morphs, it waxes and wanes, but it is never over. It is made especially difficult when the nation and the world assume that they know your story because cameras showed up (and did not always correctly report what was going on because they were eager to be the first to get info out before verifying it).

Former Students Remember...

[kz917-1 · 5/10 · 12 July 2019]

Where they were 20 years ago when the Columbine Shooting happened.

For some it's the first time they've been back in the school since that day.

Interesting perspective, hopefully it helped them heal.

A Must See Film For Anyone Affected by Mass Shootings and Related Traumas

[sharisep · 10/10 · 23 September 2019]

I have been counseling survivors of all types of trauma for over 20 years. From the moment this film started I felt my heart fill up with emotion and I did not want it to end. Each of the survivors featured in this film told their story and explained very well the long term impact of trauma. Students and a teacher present during the shooting spoke about the importance of dealing with the loss, fear and grief that followed them for years. While their stories are painful and scary, there were many moments of hope and affirmation. I already recommended this film to some of my patients. Anyone who has suffered from survivors guilt, PTSD or unimaginable loss will find comfort in watching "We Are Columbine." By the end of the film I felt connected to each of the characters. This is a film that needs to be shown around the world to teachers, parents, survivors and family members with loved ones suffering from PTSD. Shari Botwin, LCSW and Author of "Thriving After Trauma: Stories of Living and Healing," (Rowman & Littlefield, November 8, 2019)

Clique

[whiskeylynn · 1/10 · 5 August 2020]

This documentary starts with promise...but eventually is just a rendition of events told by a handful of people who ran, or hid and never faced, or at least don't discuss...any of the victims or physical pain suffered. Psychologically, yes I feel for those in this film. However, I cannot help but question the relationship of the director with those who took part and ultimately feel that this is a very murky, mild, unnecessary depiction of events for such a wide public to endure.

Poor Documentary

[sstephenson32 · 3/10 · 25 January 2020]

Very uninteresting documentary about a tragic day. All four students were unharmed and didn't even know the shooters or victims. Seems like it was more about them them then the victims.

Sad

[breehabyk · 3/10 · 12 April 2020]

Although the testimonies of those involved were raw and true, the movie had more of a feeling of a group of friends asking for a pity party. They couldn't even provide the gunmans names. Not even recognizing that those boys were actual people, could that be a factor as to why they felt so alone and helpless that they needed to take justice into their own hands? Shame on the director

Decent documentary on trauma but falls flat

[contact-38287 · 4/10 · 24 December 2019]

Although this documentary showed another side of the Columbine shooting, it lacked a narrative that kept the viewer engaged. First, the students chosen lacked diversity. They were mainly all from the same year, with 2 teachers thrown in and pretty much all one color. They all had the same type of viewpoint. This could have been done in 30 minutes. It was very anti-media but did not address any lessons learned. Overall, I could only watch 45 mins of this and turned it off because it was repetitive.

Biased insider views

[jaroyan · 5/10 · 9 July 2020]

Only one person comments on how the shooters may have felt to cause this tragedy.

Pointless

[rachhh23 · 2/10 · 31 May 2020]

This documentary was terrible. I was hoping to learn more about what happened from students who were directly affected, but these students can probably be classified as those present but least affected. They did not know anything about the shooters, did not lose any friends to the shooting, nor did they have any encounter with the shooters. I don't know what the point of this was. There was no climax to this narrative. I did a research project on school shootings back when I was in HS (2005) and was hoping to gain even more insight all these years later. Waste of my time.

Horrible perspective

[adhuey-45991 · 1/10 · 15 October 2020]

Biased horrible doc. Only perspective from "popular " people. Snide and remarkably missing the entire psychology of the entire event. Not even considering the mental illness and bullying society America deals with. Respectively acknowledged the survivors. God bless their souls. Not to be watched if you actually want to know WHY this happened. Just how it affected some individuals.