Thumbs Down

About This Movie

Thumbs Down is this fascinating slice of life documentary from '68 that captures a teenage youth group navigating the turbulent waters of faith and politics. It's not your typical anti-war film; the teens aren’t your radical leftists or flower children, but rather earnest young people who genuinely believe that their faith compels them to act. The raw, unfiltered cinema-verite style really pulls you into their world—it's almost like eavesdropping on their conversations in that conservative Chicago parish. The pacing may feel slow by today’s standards, but it just adds to the authenticity. You get a real sense of their struggle to reconcile faith with social justice, which feels relevant even now. There’s a certain charm in the earnestness of their efforts, making it distinctive in the documentary landscape.

Finding a copy of Thumbs Down can be quite the quest; it’s not as common as other documentaries from that era. It was released on VHS back in the day, but many collectors are still searching for decent quality prints or digital transfers. With growing interest in the cultural aspects of the 60s, this film’s distinctive perspective on faith and activism makes it appealing to collectors who appreciate historical context in cinema.