My Generation

As the title reveals, this 86-minute documentary talks about a generation – the 60s – which is described as a demographic who changed the world forever through their ideology, principles, clothing and music. And most importantly, it explores how this era represented the first time when young people were the drivers of a cultural revolution.

Michael Caine narrates the film from his own perspective, including himself in the story and telling the audience  anecdotes that, for him, marked the transition between the old and the new: “My generation doesn’t speak about the 60s broadly; instead, it takes London as the epicenter of it, and its citizens as an example of what the 60s meant.”

Although you might think this movie has some kind of historical significance, the truth is it only showcases what seems to be a very shallow glimpse into a decade of culture through the eyes of music, fashion and movie icons like Caine himself. For the most part, we are told about how the class system in Britain didn’t allow certain people to achieve fame – mainly because of their accents and manners. But from there, we delve into personalities who don’t necessarily reflect the period itself; miniskirts, photographing models and The Beatles are recurring themes here.

From a storytelling point of view, My Generation is divided into three parts, which helps a lot with moving the documentary forward. Director David Batty decided to do a big video montage, filled with 60s music that sometimes overpowers many of the statements taken from interview footage – the audio editing is particularly inadequate. Technicalities aside, the film is a pleasant experience that submerges you in a 60s atmosphere, with its asymmetric hair, rock ’n’ roll music and newspapers denouncing the ways of the youth.

Despite a slightly underwhelming message about how “love” is the answer, My Generation is an enjoyable hour and a half with Sir Caine. If you’re expecting an in-depth political talk or noncelebrity outlook on how London was during the swinging 60s, this is definitely not the movie for you. However, if you’re more interested in the glamour of the period, and you love vintage montage, then, by all means, give it a go.

Maria Barrios

My Generation is released in select cinemas on 14^th March 2018.

Watch the trailer for My Generation here: