Touches You

Surprisingly incoherent and boring

Highly Overrated But Still Good

Watching it is like watching the spectacle of a class clown at their best: you laugh at their jokes, instigate their defiance, and "ooooh" when they get in trouble.

This documentary focuses on a variety of students from different schools and countries as they try to qualify for the international science fair, which is akin to the Oscars for young science boffins. This isn't lightweight stuff, these youngsters are involved in proper high-level science projects from micro cameras that can tell if a burger is fully cooked to cancer prevention, by way of new improved aeroplane designs and artificial intelligence systems. When you watch this, don't be alarmed if these kids make you feel inferior. When I was 14 I wasn't developing systems to interpret brain waves, I think I was probably playing Jet Set Willy 2.This film works so very well for me because I found myself cheering on every single one of these young people. They all come from slightly different backgrounds and have different elements which make them likeable and fascinating. From the youngsters from a very poor Brazilian small town, to the little fella who created a calculator that generated Shakespearean insults (e.g. 'thou art an unwashed puckart'), to the New York teacher who has created a conveyor belt of scientific excellence in her school, to the young lass who unashamedly declares that she is a gift to the world (she actually is, by the way). There is a large selection of great characters making this one both inspiring but also somewhat moving. It makes you realise that the world is - at least partially - going to be in good hands in the future.

A group of us saw this wonderful documentary at Sundance and absolutely fell in love with the film and the students and the teachers who were featured. The Sundance audiences laughed and cried and clapped and gave the film a standing ovation at the end. We have seen many amazing documentaries in our lives but Science Fair was one of the most uplifting and inspiring documentaries we've have ever seen. The Sundance audiences voted Science Fair as the "Festival Favorite" from all the great films shown at Sundance, and the Portland Film Festival recently gave the film the "Best Documentary" award. A big thank you and congratulations to the directors, producers, students, and everyone else who made this film possible. Don't miss this wonderful film if it comes to your town...you will fall in love with Science Fair also! Science Fair is a definite 10.

I had to balance the 1 star review that precedes this one. This won the Audience Award at Sundance, so I can assure you that emotional response was truer than the cold hearted one expressed by Brian. An industry friend of mine was at the Sundance screenings and says it was a raucous room of joy. I saw this yesterday at the Portland IFF and that audience also had their hearts in their throats from the very start. The film smartly opens with undeniably great footage of a previous winner, a kid named Jack, whose unembarrassed nerdjoy just fills up the screen. The film takes off from there. If you respond to these youth competition documentaries (SPELLBOUND, FIRST POSITION) you will love this one too.

Outright one of the worst documentaries I've ever seen! When I viewed it, people around me were all crying. I thought this was out of joy. However it was out of sadness! It tries to make our "future leaders" feel accomplished, but they are all snakes who will never contribute to society. One star!!!