NR | 1h 18min | Documentary | 25 June 2021 (USA)
It is an unwritten but widely-subscribed-to belief that parents want their children to be more financially successful, better-educated, healthier, and happier than themselves. Perhaps this is merely something imprinted on human DNA by a higher power, or, maybe it’s a mission taken on by many parents to prove their superior child-rearing skills.
As presented in the frequently ear-pinning documentary “Chasing Childhood,” there came a tipping point in the late 20th century when parents began viewing their children as decades-long human improvement projects. However, like the proverbial road to hell, crafting the ideal path for the future success of one’s offspring is paved with the best of intentions.
Children Forced to Be Adults
Co-writer/directors Margaret Munzer Loeb and Eden Wurmfeld approach the touchy subject matter with an amazing level of unbiased objectivity not seen in most modern documentaries. Each having grown up in New York City in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, Loeb and Wurmfeld were part of the last generation to experience childhood in a manner similar to that of those which preceded them.
Once the school day ended, the biggest challenge facing most students back in the day was deciding whether to do their homework first or wait until after playing and blowing off steam until dark or dinnertime. By and large, they stayed in physical and mental shape while playing sports, exploring…
