For more than fifteen years Director David Licata followed a series of individuals who were hell-bent on changing the world. Robert Darden, David and Jared Milarch, Paolo Soleri, Jeff Stein, and Jill Tarter have dedicated their adult lives to making sure that the world is a better place–even if that change doesn’t come until after they’ve passed on. As Licata follows these individuals, viewers peer into their lives, their hard work, and the things that will likely come to be as a result of their dedication. A Life’s Work takes just that, a lifetime–but these passionate individuals will do all that they can to ensure success.
It’s obvious how long Licata has been working on A Life’s Work (and it’s sort of ironic that this film, in a way, has become his life’s work). In the opening seconds viewers begin to understand how long ago portions of this film were constructed–as some bits of the film are grainy. The film often looks like something you may have seen in the late 1990’s or early 2000’s–and while that really has very little bearing on the film as a whole, the reality is that it’s a reflection of how dedicated Licata has been to this project.
Licata’s passion alone is enough to intrigue viewers and provide them a reason to watch A Life’s Work. I honestly believe that this is the driving force behind the film, and it’s the reason that most people will find solace in the film or a reason to tune in. Beyond that, however, I’m not sure that there’s much here.
There’s no doubt that the individuals on screen are passionate about their work, and that they believe what they are doing will make a difference in the future (even if they aren’t alive to see these things play out). To a degree this aspect of the film is enticing–and the reality is that the things that Robert, Jill, and the others dedicate their lives to are important–but I’m not sure that they are interesting enough for the masses themselves to be interested. A Life’s Work tells four different stories, each of which border on uninteresting to the majority of viewers. A Life’s Work reminds me of those PBS documentaries that only a select few individuals actually feel the need to sit down and watch in their entirety. If someone told me a quick story about these individuals and their projects, I could remain attentive, but to go on for an hour and a half about these things feels like overkill.
Licata is thorough in his investigation and coverage of each and every one of the aforementioned individuals–but I honestly believe that he goes too far. His passion for each of these dedicated workers has helped to create something far too long, almost daunting to watch. I know that Licata has fifteen years worth of coverage to edit down, and considering that, maybe A Life’s Work is shorter than expected–but the fact remains, with the content present in this film, it’s too long for most viewers to enjoy.
A Life’s Work is a project of passion, but that passion doesn’t translate well to viewers. The film is sort of uninspiring considering how slow moving and monotone it is throughout its entirety–regardless of how important the projects depicted on screen are. I genuinely wanted to enjoy A Life’s Work because of how hard Licata worked on it, but the reality is that it lacks luster and conviction in the final product.
Directed by David Licata.
Starring Robert Darden, David Milarch, Jared Milarch, Paolo Soleri, Jeff Stein, and Jill Tarter, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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