90. Downfall - The Case Against Boeing; movie review

 

DOWNFALL - THE CASE AGAINST BOEING

Cert 12A

90 mins

BBFC advice: Contains infrequent strong language

Why do those at the top care so little for human life?

As we watch reports from the war in Eastern Europe, that is a question which is constantly whirring around in my mind.

Historically, politicians have wagered lives for a slither of power and now the same applies to major corporations.

According to Don Kleszy's documentary, the American aircraft builder Boeing allowed greed to influence key decisions, deeming share prices to be more important than maintaining passenger safety.

It looks back particular on the crashes of Boeing planes in Indonesia and Ethiopia in 2019.

At the time, the company had an impeccable safety record but its reactions to both tragedies left the media and the aviation world aghast.

Firstly, it tried to blame them on pilot error and then, when it became clear that there were system failures, it set out to either straight bat questions or find scapegoats.

Kleszy very effectively builds up factual evidence against Boeing rather than piling in from a purely emotional perspective.

He compiles its history alongside interpretations from whistleblowers.

But, of course, the most poignant contributions come from the families of the dead. These are all the more devastating because they are considered rather than hysterical.

They come from people who need to know why their loved ones have died and why Boeing seems to have shifted its gaze from safety to the stock market.

Downfall - The Case Against Boeing provides clear answers. Unfortunately, the company declined to answer on screen and gave a typically grey written response.

Reasons to watch: A documentary which shocks

Reasons to avoid: No comment from Boeing

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 8/10

Did you know? In 1916, William Boeing went into business with George Conrad Westervelt and founded Pacific Aero Products Co. The company's first plane was the Boeing Model 1 (B & W Seaplane). When America entered the First World War on April 8, 1917, Boeing changed the name to Boeing Airplane Company and obtained orders from the US Navy for 50 planes. At the end of the war, Boeing concentrated on commercial aircraft to service airmail contracts.

The final word. Rory Kennedy: "Now every single time I book a flight for my children or my family, I make sure I know what kind of plane that is." The Hollywood Reporter

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