Minimalism: a documentary about the important things – a review

 ‘Minimalism: a documentary about the important things’ perfectly explains the greed of needing material goods to fill our happiness which exist today, as Rick Hanson (a neuropsychologist) puts it: ‘we are always restless and wanting more’. At the beginning of the documentary, this fast paced lifestyle In New York city is established with the overwhelming amount of billboards and lights flashing, yellow taxis rushing though the city and masses of people scurrying though the streets, with all their identities blended together, with no desire to stand out or stop and look at the world amongst them. The documentary presents the realistic greed in high streets, from masses of people running into retail stores, fighting over one another for the final prized possession of the latest iPhone. Fighting over material goods, is embarrassing! The first voice we hear in this documentary is Dan Harris, an author of 10 % happier who mentions: ‘we spend so much time on the hunt but nothing else quite does it for us and we get so wrapped up in the hunt that it makes us miserable’. The documentary also explains this illusion of the pressure we feel to live up to the standards of glamorous celebrities, to purchase products to maintain what we have told ‘a normal life’. Retail shops are releasing a new trend every week, the increase of fast fashion is at an increase, with sweatshop workers, tirelessly working away to profit for these big corporations. We think buying clothes makes us happier, but do they? In my experience, it makes my day buying new clothes, I love the FEELING, but my happiness and gratitude of these purchases are short term happiness.

 The main story thread follows two men: Ryan and Josh who have written a book about being ‘minimalistic’, we follow them on their book tour around America, preaching their messages to offer an alternative lifestyle. We learn Ryan’s ‘gaping void in his life’ he filled with material goods didn’t add to his happiness anymore but learns from fellow friend Josh, living a minimalistic life is a gamechanger. Now, every possession serves a purpose to their life, questioning: ‘does this add value to my life’. From small turn outs on their book events, these men remain appreciative and genuine as ever, always grateful if even once person turns up for a book event. Their motivation and determination to live this minimalistic lifestyle is very inspiring, not feeling pressure anymore to consume these material goods and revaluate what the true meanings in their life are. Seeing fans meet Ryan and Josh is so heart-warming, we see them attending radio shows, TV shows, speeches at their events. A compelling part on their tour is when Joshua reads an extract on the beach about all the overwhelming list of what he needs for an apartment but coming to the realisation of do we really need all these possessions in the house? Even one of the owners of the bookstores didn’t believe they would need more than 30 chairs for a book signing but 150/200 people turn up. We follow Ryan and Josh on their journey of success, successfully spreading their message and receiving appreciation from all they’ve done.

 We also are introduced to other individuals in the documentary who follow Ryan and Josh’s philosophy of living a minimalist lifestyle. From Tammy Strobel, author of ‘you can buy happiness’ who is introduced in her tiny home, explain she sold 90% of her stuff and lives in a lovely wilderness area, happy and content with life, without owning loads of possessions which serve no purpose. Bigger houses don’t always equal happiness. Tiny house designer: Jay Austin also lives in a tiny house who has surrounded himself with other individuals with his same mindset, living a happier life. We are introduced to Courtney Carver who in 2010 introduced the minimalist fashion challenge ‘333’ which consist of limiting down the amount of clothes you own, something I definitely want to try as I have too many clothes that I don’t even wear, the success of this project is reflected on the mention of all different people on YouTube appreciating her help. A full – time traveller who has taken on travelling as his fun time job, we see archive photos of him travelling. He got rid of everything that wouldn’t fit into one backpack, amazing! We are also introduced to another man whose life once resolved around his finance and accounting career but left his job, believing there was more to life than paying bills and rent. However, not all people can just leave their job as life is sadly expensive and there is bills and rent to pay but one day, I will have enough money to pack my bags up and travel as there’s so much to see in the world.

A government official says a powerful statement at the end of the documentary, saying the true problems of a nation, saying there’s something deeper than recession, a nation that was proud of hard work, strong families, close communities, too many of worship, self-indulgent and consumption now. Peoples identity now is often regarding as what they own, not that they stand for. Material goods don’t satisfy of longing in meaning, can’t fill emptiness. This is a warning he says.  We’ve been told we need to have things from society. Having that balance, having enough is what you’re looking for.

At the end of the documentary, we hear from all the individuals again, finalising their messages, one of the scientists, defines her own American dream: everyone coming together as a community, more equality and fairness, everybody has a chance, responsible to the planet. I love how the documentary ends with a montage of all the individuals featured in the documentary, further implying to the audience the impact this minimalistic life has had on all these individuals, such as the tiny home owners, the man travelling, couple who started project 33 and a family who attempt to be minimalistic.

To finish the main story thread of Ryan and Josh’s story, they end up at their biggest event in LA end up in La at their biggest event, trying to show peoples there’s a different way of living and sharing their appreciation for all their fans who idolise them. They mention that the last thing to take in is love people and use things because the opposite never works. Thank you so much for coming out’.  The ending is them driving into the mountains with a fade of their fans clapping, onto their next journey.  

So, I would definitely recommend this documentary! I found it inspiring how all these individuals are living minimalistic lifestyle, they aren’t persuaded to live a life which is determined by value of the material possessions they own but finding meaning through this new minimalistic lifestyle. Material goods may give you happiness in the short term but in the long term, it won’t really! So, this documentary has definitely inspired me, I too want to live a minimalistic lifestyle! I will start by donating the clothes I don’t want to charity which will be a very hard task as I am so attached to my clothes, even if I haven’t worn some clothes in years! But I really don’t need all these clothes.

So, thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed this blog post.

-Katie