Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘The Act of Reading’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the documentary film, ‘The Act of Reading’.
​
Back in the day when we were schoolchildren, there was one particular assignment that all of us dreaded… the book report. Because that particular style of report, likely meant that we would need to sacrifice precious playtime or video game time to sit down and read a book that we likely weren’t going to enjoy the slightest. Because the kind of books that required a report were stuffy in nature and going through it was going to be an awful experience for certain. But we either buckled down and finished the book because that’s simply what we had to do, or we didn’t, because that was something that happened from time to time as well and we of course, moved on from that moment, never giving it a second thought until later in life.
​
For eventually we came to realize that book reports were designed to be more than annoying busy work or some kind of boring punishment from our teacher. No instead, they were designed to teach us critical analysis and how to properly examine literature and life, and regardless of how much we despised them growing up, the skill set they sent our way, eventually makes us grateful we ever dealt with them and perhaps wistful that we didn’t finish all of them in a proper manner. Which leaves one to wonder, what it would be like, if we could go back and finish those unfinished reports now? Would that disdain return thanks to mental muscle memory? Or would we enjoy diving back into those books now that we have a little life experience and a better understanding of the analytical process? Well as it turns out, one man decided that those questions would be fun to answer and that allowed for the documentary film, The Act of Reading, to be born. 

Which is a motion picture that introduces us to a man named Mark Blumberg who years ago, failed an English class because of the fact that he slacked through it and basically didn’t bother to deal with an assignment revolving around the classic novel, Moby Dick. But now that he is older and wiser, he opts to go back to school, so to speak, and do a proper analysis of this classic tome and well… that leads to one incredibly fascinating journey. One that opens Mark’s eyes to the fact that books like Moby Dick, the kind that are complex and annoying to teenagers, do indeed find life in the everyday world after school has come to an end. Since he encounters so many people in his travels, that speak to how that novel touched them and moved them, to the point where fans of this novel gather together to celebrate it in a unique manner.

---

Plus, the realization that there is so much more to this book, leads Mark to begin to explore the life and times of the author himself. Which allows for him to come to learn of Melville’s mental health issues and the tough life he led in his Pennsylvania abode since he shared it with so many family members, and as an added twist, this part of the journey also allows for Mark to meet actual relatives of the man. Which in turn gives  Mark and the viewer the opportunity to hear about what it is like to be related to a famous author from ages ago that is still celebrated to this day, and that brings forth some fascinating and engrossing moments. Since it is both surreal and powerful to hear folks that share the Melville bloodline, speak to how his work is with them every single day. 
​
But truly where this documentary shines, is by way of its examination of the actual science behind reading and how it impacts us. Because this segment of the story makes it clear that taking the time to pour over words and analyze them and celebrate them, is fundamentally good for our minds. Since it helps the brain to grow and does indeed teach us a great deal about critical thinking and most important of all, this segment also explores the wonder that accompanies losing ourselves within a story. Because immersing one’s mind within a world that someone else created, is quite the intoxicating experience, and really, it is this part of the story that makes it inherently clear what Mark wants to accomplish with this wonderful documentary, and it goes far beyond simply handling unfinished business from so long ago.

No instead, it is obvious that this documentary is an outright celebration of literature. One that is assembled by a man that came to discover its wonder and its power a little later on in life, and it is also a thank you letter to the fine teachers that dedicate their days to getting younger minds to appreciate it as well and really, everything we’ve discussed here today… makes this particular documentary a must see. Because it really does a fine job of showing us the magic that books produce and of reminding us of the importance of the classics. Plus, it asks those that don’t necessarily read all that often, to give literature another try and look at books from a whole new angle and those are some genuinely refreshing and uplifting messages to find, in an era where documentaries tend to focus on the darker aspects of our world.

---