Who Are the Marcuses? (2022) Film Review
In Who are the Marcuses?, a donation of half a billion dollars starts many conversations. Surely, the origin of such a large amount of money is important enough to discuss, but the destination of it is extremely highlighted. It’s what makes the documentary a worthy representation of attention itself. You will ask yourself “who can give away this sum?”. But you will feel hope at what the film is ultimately about. And yes, it’s more than just a film about a kind couple who decided to support a cause.
It’s about how an act of kindness can be noble enough to make you think. Sure, the sum of money is extraordinary, but think of how shedding away pretensions (regarding something material or not) can bring peace if it’s actually accomplished from an honest perspective. Yes, there’s a need to observe the conflicts (there are several) and you will inherently discuss them. But a final address is important enough to make you progress. As Lennon once told you: “give peace a chance”. Even if half a billion dollars ignites the conversation.
Who are the Marcuses? is the story of how Holocaust refugees Lottie and Howard Marcus donated a fortune when they passed away. The impact of such a sum is enough to start an exploration on an aspect of Israel that’s seldom spoken about: its dependence on water and how it has managed to survive as a nation in a land that’s extremely dry. The money was donated to a university specializing in water conservation and water technology.
The territory around the country is also part of the conversation, but I won’t dig into this. It’s better if you see for yourself. This is fascinating.
Directed by Matthew Mishory, Who are the Marcuses? is both a cautionary tale about water conservation in the most extreme of places, but it’s also a curious observation about the Marcus family and where they come from. The analysis of war and its latter effect in the construction of Israel isn’t thorough in the film, but it’s discussed enough to know the tidbits of an obscure moment in history. It’s a concept so interesting, it’s hard to understand how it wasn’t addressed before.
Mishory is a very good storyteller, constantly depending on mixing subjects and themes with his final approach of the necessity of conservation, peace, and awareness. The Marcuses are the center of the plot, but they’re considered as the parents of the conversation that’s further followed upon by the protagonists of modern times. From young people, to specialists, that half a billion dollars will help someone, but it’s not only those you’re thinking of.
I can’t emphasize this enough. A donation of half a billion dollars to a single entity is something you see in movies. And yet, it’s not the most interesting commentary of this story. Even Warren Buffett as a personality remains secondary to the most important aspect of Who are the Marcuses?: the resilience of humankind, shown through the views of a population who’s capable of overseeing the orthodox side of tradition for the sake of peace.
Films can be lessons. Who are the Marcuses? is a very good one.
