Unlikely - Film Analysis by Seren Roskow https://padlet.com/humalong/gztzyd9ow80gz5tv Analysis of the 2019 documentary "Unlikely" for ENGL 483 en-us 2020-11-18 23:40:08 UTC 2026-03-10 17:29:41 UTC hello@padlet.com Background Information humalong https://padlet.com/humalong/gztzyd9ow80gz5tv/wish/939273379
  • Released in 2019
  • Directed and Produced by Jaye and Adam Fenderson
  • Narrated by Jaye Fenderson
    • Former admissions officer at Columbia University
    • "I wanted to make a documentary about the problems facing higher education and the system and how it’s broken."
      -Georgetown Voice
    • ]]>     2020-11-18 23:43:24 UTC https://padlet.com/humalong/gztzyd9ow80gz5tv/wish/939273379     What Is This About? humalong https://padlet.com/humalong/gztzyd9ow80gz5tv/wish/939274052 "Unlikely investigates America’s college dropout crisis and the barriers students face in their pursuit of a college degree and meaningful career."
    -Unlikely website

    "The scandal is a symptom of a larger problem in our higher education system which is that we say that it’s a meritocracy, that if you work hard you can get into a good school. But we’re not graduating those students and so there is a disconnect between the message that we’re telling people and then the outcome that we’re seeing in the real world.” 
    -Jaye Fenderson, Georgetown Voice]]>     2020-11-18 23:43:47 UTC https://padlet.com/humalong/gztzyd9ow80gz5tv/wish/939274052     Message and Politics humalong https://padlet.com/humalong/gztzyd9ow80gz5tv/wish/939274597 Overall Message: what's causing students to drop out is the system of higher education itself, which is broken and in need of reform.

    Political Ideas
    • College Accessibility
    • Economic Inequality
    • Loan Debt
    ]]>     2020-11-18 23:44:04 UTC https://padlet.com/humalong/gztzyd9ow80gz5tv/wish/939274597     Human Connections humalong https://padlet.com/humalong/gztzyd9ow80gz5tv/wish/939275044
  • Core of the film is the five students it follows
  • Relies heavily on their experiences to get viewers to connect emotionally to the film
  • Provide experiences and insights that viewers can relate to and learn from
  • Also features interviews with industry and academic experts
    • ]]>     2020-11-18 23:44:20 UTC https://padlet.com/humalong/gztzyd9ow80gz5tv/wish/939275044     Relevant Scene humalong https://padlet.com/humalong/gztzyd9ow80gz5tv/wish/939275503 2020-11-18 23:44:38 UTC https://padlet.com/humalong/gztzyd9ow80gz5tv/wish/939275503 Critical Reception humalong https://padlet.com/humalong/gztzyd9ow80gz5tv/wish/939275950 "The codirectors, unconcerned with visual ornamentation, disseminate facts clearly in an undertaking that’s scholarly adept yet disappoints artistically. More digestible than a thick academic study, “Unlikely” was obviously designed as an issue-driven program without cinematic aspirations. That’s likely for the best."
    -Carlos Aguilar, LA Times

    "If a film intends to tackle education with the care and nuance the subject deserves, it should probably (a) narrow its focus or (b) be impeccably argued and researched [...] Unfortunately, “Unlikely" [...] accomplishes neither. Lazy and unfocused, it relies on brash emotional manipulation to hide the shortcomings of its arguments."
    -Alan Zilberman, The Washington Post

    "I do not deny the truth or urgency of the problem Unlikely brings to show us. It is very much so a topical and educational watch that is easy to follow. However, even though it is a call to action, its near constant heavy tone has the opposite effect, causing viewers to sink into the quicksand of pessimism and failing to completely pull them out of it at the end. While Unlikely is certainly not a fun thing to watch, its relevance arguably makes it a necessary one."
    -Stephanie Chuang, UW Film Club]]>     2020-11-18 23:44:53 UTC https://padlet.com/humalong/gztzyd9ow80gz5tv/wish/939275950     Personal Assessment humalong https://padlet.com/humalong/gztzyd9ow80gz5tv/wish/939276292
  • Informative experience overall
  • Personally relatable, easy to empathize with the students
  • Ambitious but felt somewhat overloaded/overwhelming
  • Agree with the sentiment of "not fun, but necessary"
    • ]]>     2020-11-18 23:45:04 UTC https://padlet.com/humalong/gztzyd9ow80gz5tv/wish/939276292     Sources humalong https://padlet.com/humalong/gztzyd9ow80gz5tv/wish/943689755 Unlikely film website
    Aguilar review
    Zilberman review
    Chuang review
    Georgetown Voice interview
    EducationData statistics]]>     2020-11-19 22:14:48 UTC https://padlet.com/humalong/gztzyd9ow80gz5tv/wish/943689755     Structure humalong https://padlet.com/humalong/gztzyd9ow80gz5tv/wish/969516827
  • Part 1: How the System is Flawed
    • Profit and Prestige
    • Wealth/Economic Inequality
    • Lack of Guidance/Institutional Support
    • Time and Money (Cost/Debt)
      • All of these issues disproportionately impact students of color
  • Part 2: How We Can Fix It
    • Alternative Teaching Methods
    • New Advising Methods
    • Access Programs
    • Substantial Scholarship Access

    • ]]>     2020-11-29 23:47:51 UTC https://padlet.com/humalong/gztzyd9ow80gz5tv/wish/969516827