SUNDANCE 2022 | REVIEW: "DOWNFALL: The Case Against Boeing" Uncovers What Went Wrong
10/12 ForReel Score | 4/5 Stars
If you were in tune with the news in 2018, you’re undoubtedly aware of the situations that occurred with the Boeing 737 Max airplanes at that time. With me living north of the Boeing airfield in Seattle, the news was particularly disconcerting to me and those in my community who recognize the significance of Boeing to our local workforce and economy. It had us all asking, how could this happen? News stations broke the story, but now four years later, director Rory Kennedy shares the details of what went wrong here in DOWNFALL: The Case Against Boeing.
In this alarming documentary, Kennedy presents the facts of the case - how two Boeing 737 Max airplanes crashed within months of each other, killing hundreds of passengers between the two tragedies. There are detailed explanations about the MCAS system that was installed in these airplanes yet never explained to pilots. Then the film underscores the negligence exercised by Boeing’s management who routinely prioritized profits over safety. The result is an upsetting presentation that unveils a cover up fueled by toxic top-down corporate culture.
As a veteran documentary filmmaker, Kennedy is proficient at curating a compelling documentary experience. With testimony from Boeing employee relatives and those intimately involved in the industry, the tone of the film is unapologetically biting against the aerospace behemoth. What news explains just enough for mainstream audiences to comprehend more easily, DOWNFALL spells out in elaborate detail, making for an educational experience that shines a blazing spotlight on exactly how gross the gross negligence in the company was.
What DOWNFALL accomplishes with a pristine, targeted aim is expose the issue of trusting institutions that are expected to be reliable and accountable for the good of the public. Though many of the subjects give compelling testimony and perspectives regarding the 737 Max incidents, one statement from journalist Andy Pasztor stands out - to me anyway - above anything else:
“No matter how big the company is and how sophisticated and what a fantastic past it had, which is all true for Boeing, we should be skeptical. All of us should be skeptical.”
The moral being that no organization should be exempt from scrutiny - especially when profitability and personal gain is a component of the operation. Because, as we see in the case of Boeing, the consequences of not asking enough questions about conglomerates claiming to be doing the right thing can be devastating.
But what does accountability really mean in a culture where punishment for irresponsible decision making is a $62 million dollar payout - the sum paid to former Boeing Chief Executive Office Dennis Muilenburg upon his forced resignation for the scandal? Like many documentaries covering unacceptable situations, DOWNFALL doesn’t have the answers or resolutions that those most passionate about the subject would hope for. And with Boeing being a dominant force in the aerospace industry, this documentary - even with Netflix distribution - likely won’t change the culture of Boeing alone. But perhaps it will empower Boeing employees - or personnel of any unethically operating company - to be vocal even when it’s discouraged. And maybe even inspire travelers to think more critically about their flight plans.
Acting and Casting - 2 | Visual Effects and Editing - 2 | Story and Message - 2 | Entertainment Value - 2 | Music Score and Soundtrack - 1 | Reviewer's Preference - 1 | What does this mean?