The Librarians

Ten years ago it would have sounded like a joke. But in these strange and disturbing times librarians find themselves on the front line of America’s culture wars; and that front line that is less metaphorical than we might like to think — it can involve physical intimidation, threats of gun violence, and termination of employment.

Kim Snyder’s troubling documentary reveals how a covertly funded and expertly coordinated right wing operation manipulates parental fears of pornography and pedophilia, takes over school boards, and proceeds to remove access to books by writers of colour, non-binary texts, and histories of slavery and the Civil Rights movement. Margaret Atwood, Salman Rushdie, Judy Blume, Kurt Vonnegut and George Orwell have all been banned in some Texas and Florida schools. Depressing as all this is, the courage and commitment of the librarians themselves is a source of inspiration. Book lovers aren’t about to give up the good fight and librarians are speaking out.

The Librarians is as well-crafted as it is profoundly alarming.

Sheri Linden, New York Times

There’s never been a movie more vital this year than The Librarians. If you prize literature, intelligence, independent thought, safe spaces for children, it’s a necessary watch.

Kristen Lopez, The Film Maven

A powerful and vital documentary at this point in history.

Mey Rude, Out Magazine