When we speak about how far we have come and how much we have progressed, in what context do we refer? We have established groundbreaking technology and research that has pushed humanity into a portal of advancements. From electrocuting the mentally challenged to 3-year diagnosis waiting lists. From oppression to suppression. From physical labour to mental strain. In the process of producing the documentary, I wonder if we should be measuring our progress not on how far we have come, but on how we have come this far.

We tend to want to preserve history for generations future, but is all history worth preserving when it does not serve the present? History in the context of architecture where railway stations for example, built in the 1700s are reproduced but do not produce practicality for today’s people. That being said the variety of human ability is surely not only relevant to the people of the 21st century. If we still feel restricted today, I can only imagine what was felt then. History in the context of laws and legislations born from what we have become aware to be immoral foundations, that are no longer suited for the consciousness of today’s humanity. History in the context of education, where in schools we recite outdated views and stories one-sided, rather than take a holistic and inclusive approach to the experiences of the people. Our children are made to place themselves in the shoes of those who fought for our country in their history class, but not everyone had shoes that were celebrated. How do we learn from what we do not teach? How can we practice what we do not preach?

It is easy to say that we have advanced so much as a society when we look at things from a bird’s-eye view. Well, probably not a bird’s eye view with the rise of pollution. Here on the ground, talking to the people who these ‘advancements’ are made to assist have a different version of reality than that which has been advertised. With this, I aim to bring forth in the documentary an inclusive story that is a truth formed of truths. Where conversations can form.

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