DOWNFALL: THE CASE AGAINST BOEING -- How It All Could Have Been Prevented

Review by Paris Jade

Photo Courtesy of Netflix.

In the years 2018 and '19, tragedy struck. Two Boeing 737 Max airplanes crashed into the ground, leaving no survivors. This had affected the entire world. Now in 2022, Netflix has released Downfall: The Case Against Boeing, directed by Rory Kennedy. This documentary investigates what exactly happened to those planes and who is responsible for the hundreds of lives lost within those five months. ​

This documentary will very much leave you in shock. It immediately drags you in by bringing family members who had lost their loved ones in the crashes. Already you know whose side this documentary is on, and you understand what story is about to be told. The pacing is perfect, and it has a great balance that is not too overwhelming with its grief. You will most definitely feel for these families, and in some scenes, it is very painful to watch, but it is amazing that these people can come on and talk about their loved ones. They share their stories, and the audience feels just a little more connected to them and a little more sympathetic than before.

Photo Courtesy of Netflix.

As you come into the film, you are at square one with the rest of the world, wondering how this ever happened. The film does a great way of keeping a sense of mystery and slowly revealing what really happened while also keeping you interested. Of course, certain moments dragged on just a little too long, but it would always lead back to an answer that sometimes would be shocking to know. Nonetheless, the twists and turns of the film leave you wanting more knowledge of what really went down. Any questions you have at the beginning of the documentary will be answered by the end. ​

The cinematography for this film and the re-enactments of the plane crashes were a great addition to showing audiences how things actually happened. After finding evidence through a black box, the filmmakers were able to go through what really happened on those planes and translate it to the audience. They also use trial footage during the case against Boeing, where you find family members holding pictures of their loved ones up, which is truly a mournful sight to see. The footage chosen was thought out carefully and showed their storytelling skills. These crashes affected hundreds of people, which is why it is so important that their story is told.

Downfall: The Case Against Boeing is out on Netflix now. 

Rating: 4/5