The Librarians, 2025,
Directed by Kim A. Snyder.
SYNOPSIS:
Librarians unite to combat book banning, defending intellectual freedom on democracy’s frontlines amid unprecedented censorship in Texas, Florida, and beyond.
The first talking head interview in director Kim A. Snyder’s The Librarians is with an anonymous individual. It’s a brilliant, small, creative decision as, from the outset, it plants into the viewer’s mind whether it’s that dangerous to appear in a documentary chronicling book-banning controversies. Those following this ongoing and outrageous story (spanning across primarily southern states, including obvious ones such as Texas and Florida) probably already know the answer, but for anyone getting their first meaty exposure to these events, it will become clear that these people are heroes on the front lines of a modern civil rights movement and that in some instances they do need to protect their identities.
These admirable and inspiring librarians trying to keep books documenting the history of racism or containing LGBTQ material or sexual content (which is not the same thing as pornographic content) aren’t being provoked and challenged by right-wing parents and lawmakers with levelheaded concern or reasonable conversation and debate. In most instances, these dedicated librarians (many of them with endearing personalities and vast education, capable of making informed judgment calls on what’s suitable for children and teenagers with the noble goal of simply wanting to help them understand more about themselves through books that will subsequently point them toward other like-minded communities so they don’t have to feel alone) are consistently on the receiving end of grotesque accusations. It also becomes evident that there is no valid fear about the material available to check out in schools, and that is all fake religiously based outrage masquerading as a ploy to seize political control further.
Given that there are a lot of juxtapositions between gentle librarians and angry MAGA-types who unleash nothing but cruel behavior, the film is also a window into the startling differences in politeness and compassion these groups have for others. The intelligence demonstrated is also another dramatically imbalanced contrast. There is no tiptoeing around it; these people who want certain kinds of books banned have brain-rot.
This occurs in every interaction, such as when a pro-book-banning ally does her research and realizes that none of what she and her podcast hosts are spewing doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. Rather than be normal about it and listen to her findings, potentially having their own moment of snapping out of a brainwashed mindset, they start chattering amongst themselves, disappointedly uttering, “Oh no, she went woke.” It’s good I am not at Sundance in person, as I probably would have been thrown out of the theater for throwing popcorn and drinks at the screen anytime these mean-spirited, evil imbeciles started talking.
The hypocrisy kicker is that books containing graphic descriptions of sexual assault, such as A Clockwork Orange, aren’t being targeted. That’s also not to say that it should be banned, either. It’s about artistic freedom and pushing back against dangerous censorship in the name of a politically motivated grift designed to hurt anyone who isn’t straight and white.
Naturally, The Librarians will have one stewing in anger throughout its entire running time. However, it’s also important to note that there are several tender moments of librarians recounting stories of changing lives for the better, rousingly courageous speeches directly to lawmakers, and empowering moments of winning small legal battles. It’s also a somewhat repetitive documentary by nature, but in this case, it is used to engaging effect, showing that this enraging push for censorship is expanding. Who knows what will happen next over the next four years with Trump running America, so this is essential viewing and will unquestionably pull in more activists to keep up the fight.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★
Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association, Critics Choice Association, and Online Film Critics Society. He is also the Flickering Myth Reviews Editor. Check here for new reviews and follow my BlueSky or Letterboxd
