STORYLINE:  Librarians unite to combat book banning, defending intellectual freedom on democracy’s frontlines amid unprecedented censorship in Texas, Florida, and beyond.  (IMDb)

     Literary cinema seems to fall into a few basic categories. The first is adaptations of literature, such as James Whales’ 1931 adaptation of Frankenstein.  Then there are films about writing books. For example, Capote (2005), the Oscar winning film starring Philip Seymour Hoffman.  Then there are documentaries about authors, such as Turn Every Page, from 2022, about author Robert Caro.  The Librarians, is feature documentary focusing on the struggles librarians schools schools face with removing books because of content based on social issues.  

    The Librarians presents its facts, as they started during the pandemic in Texas. It shows how books with LGBTQ+ themes and African American history were to be removed from punlov school libraries.  The documentary then traces how this trend develops into  other states such as Florida. It also shows the consequences for those who stand in the way of this travesty.. From this point The Librarians, follows its principal subjects as they struggle to fight this issue. 

    The movie shows how passionate people are about  what material is available, and through news clips, pta and town council meetings both sides get their voice heard. 

    The Librarians is about censorship.  It’s about the fight to stop this censoring.  It’s a good cause. 

    The Librarians os the kind of film that is frustrating. Mainly because I agree with the points it is making. This material should be available, to those seeking it.

    The film does have stand up and cheer moments sprinkled throughout, but I believe in spoiler free entrees.  I mention it because these moments, will on occasion, offset the frustration of the situation presented in the film.

   The Librarians is a documentary about censoring what material is available in public school libraries, and those crusading to keep those books there. 

   Until next time, I will see you at the movies!