Changing (1971)

The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

The first must-see film of the year.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

The short focuses on one family, husband who works on and drives big rigs for a living; presumably since he graduated High School. To some people (probably his boss and/or co-workers) he comes off as if he's a hippie-type person. The mother seems like a stay-at-home mother (1970-1 and all) and both raising two children, a boy and a girl. The husband prefers to keep his work and private life separate as much as possible and where he doesn't like even being at work (who does in these sometimes menial jobs?) or putting in overtime. At the same time it seems he lets his wife do all the decision making (or at least most of it) when in concern to the children. The marijuana part happened where the men rolled the joints and then afterward everyone smoked them, including the women. It was a small get together of friends relaxing and having a good time smoking weed. There was a memorable part for me with the model glue where it says to keep away from children and the mother (rightfully) was worried about that with her two small children (presumably the son bought it) and the mother called the makers, or the store to find out the laws on selling such an item and the person on the phone said (allegedly "Anyone can buy it if they have the money"). In concern to the title, things like that have changed since. I also liked the scene where the parents are explaining to their children between what candy and pills (drugs) looks like. She lays them on the table mixed up and asks them if they can tell the difference. Most of the time they get it correct but sometimes they didn't. Afterward the parents discuss the hypocrisy of them telling their children not to do drugs while they smoke marijuana. I enjoyed that part. Kids, especially, should know the difference even today. The father asks if the school the son goes to even warns students about drugs and he said "no". A little worrisome even for 1970.It was good for what it was but it could've gone a bit longer.-Nam

Several sets of people go to a group session to deal with their marital problems. The women speak in the current (as of 1970) argot of needs and validation. The men mumble, a bit bewildered by the entire process, but trying to make an effort to save their marriages. Then they roll and share a joint.Looking at this movie, I am impressed by the old dictum that men marry the woman they see while women marry the men they can make into the man they want. Or perhaps men are less introspective and until some one makes a point of it, they don't bother to change. It seems significant to me that when the lead couple catches their son with drugs, it is the man who raises the question of whether they need to stop using pot themselves while the woman wants to just talk about it.

Fascinating cinema verite about a California man and his family as they are influenced and changed by the shifting values of the 60s. As as the man begins smoking pot and growing his hair longer, he starts to re-evaluate what's really important, like spending more time with his kids, and less on the overtime demands of his trucking jobs. Again, a powerful slice of reality from 1971, a golden time. If this period in American history interests you then this doc will give you a good feel for the times. If you've ever wondered what a pot party among a few couples lolled and sounded like from this period, this doc gives a perfect example.