24. Dream Big - Engineering Our World; movie review

DREAM BIG - ENGINEERING OUR WORLD
Cert U
42 mins
BBFC advice: Contains images of natural disasters

Here's a first - everyfilm makes its debut at London's world-famous Science Museum.
Indeed, Mrs W and I virtually had its giant 450-seat IMAX theatre to ourselves for Greg MacGillivray's Dream Big - Engineering Our World.
"Hold on", I hear you cry - "Surely, this doesn't fit into the everyfilm criteria?"
Stay calm. Agreed at 42 minutes, it could be considered a short film rather than a feature but it is listed by filmdates.co.uk and, although, it has been showing at the Science Museum since last year, it is now available at cinemas for the first time (It's being screened in Bradford).
Regardless, Dream Big is an inspirational documentary and uses its IMAX 3D to greater effect than many mainstream movies.
It is particularly welcome because it focuses on the achievements of women engineers and the hopes that their numbers will swell in the future.
The documentary highlights one who is working to make tall buildings safe from earthquakes and another who has given up high-paid employment to help construct vital bridges in the third world.
Dream Big benefits from some succinct but powerful narration from the gravel-voiced Jeff Bridges and smart direction from MacGillivray who makes sure that its subject matter is accessible enough to inspire both adults and children.
But most of all it looks great, using lots of aerial angles and transporting cinema audiences through space, on rail tracks and a rollercoaster. It reminded my of the old 3D fairground attractions.
If it influences only a handful of young visitors to the Science Museum to take up the cudgel of the engineers, it will have served its purpose.
I  would say it should be on the curriculum of every school in Britain.

Reasons to watch: the IMAX 3D is spectacular
Reasons to avoid: its subject might be too dry for some

Laughs: two
Jumps: one
Vomit: none
Nudity: none
Overall rating: 8/10

Director quote - Greg MacGillivray: "I always wanted to make a movie about the joy of creativity. Engineering touches us all every day."

The big question - will it be eventually possible for there to be as many women engineers as there are men?

Share this post