Speak. is a documentary that captures hope as future generations speak up about what they see and demand to see in the future.
Speak. gets audiences hyped at the outset, especially if one’s a fan of spoken word. While Def Poetry has a shadow over it thanks to one of its creators, the beauty of speech, debate, and spoken word entertainment is its versatility. It’s about connecting, resonance, and eliciting a response. Be it joy, frustration, grief, or triumph, hearing someone articulate precisely how one feels creates a catharsis and kinship.
This documentary follows high schoolers from different schools as they compete. However, their pinnacle in original oratory is the NSDA (National Speech & Debate Association) Tournament. Although it’s a competition, Speak. is a documentary that captures hope as future generations speak up about what they see and demand to see in the future.
Directed by Jennifer Tiexiera and Guy Mossman, the documentary follows several students. But it begins with the winner of the last two years, Esther. To start, her family emigrated to the United States from Nigeria, and it showcases her affection for her family, her vibrant culture, and her hope to be the first orator to become a three-time champ. Each student’s story resonates outwards like ripples across the surface, gaining traction.
Speak. Shows How The Kids Lives Shape Them
The documentary focuses on humanizing each student. They show Esther’s religious joy and love of teaching children at Sunday school and how that shapes her speech in competition. She focuses her competitive speech on how politicians manipulate “protect the children” to maintain power. Each kid has different experiences that shape them. Noor, from Texas, enters the competition and wants to advocate for disabled people like her brother, who she helps care for alongside her mom, Deb.
Sam, another competitor, focuses on politicians as well. In particular, he talks about the use of nostalgia as a tactic to push laws specifically targeting LGBTQ+ people, of which he is one. Noah has Asperger’s Syndrome and lost his mother a few years ago by suicide. His speech focuses on the right for people to have that choice but also the importance of making living an appealing alternative to dying.
Lastly, Mfaz, a Muslim student with a TikTok following she built during the COVID lockdown, centers her oratory on the psychological war tactics, like humiliation, that force people to conceal their identity. Speak. gives each student attention, and their personalities shine through with animated gusto, making the stakes feel higher for audiences as the students from different schools vy for victory.
Rooting For Everyone
It’s impossible not to connect with and cheer for the students audiences are on the journey with in Speak. They display a level of awareness and empathy that many adults lack. Seeing teenagers embrace their identities and culture and articulate their dreams, hopes, and desires for the future inspires viewers.
The film displays the humanity of these teenagers. They possess an awareness of the harms and dangers that exist in the United States and the world at large. While we carry breath, we each have an opportunity to help shape the world we want to see. Speak. motivates audiences to be their best selves daily while instilling hope for the future as this generation reaches adulthood.
