Review of 'Rebellion'

More thoughtful documentary than I was expecting, and more nuanced. Shows some of the failures and inadequacies of the movement as well as the glorious successes, and the internal tensions. In particular, it shows up just how toxic and destructive Roger Hallam is/was - how unprepared for participation in anything like a democratic organisation. The movement's ad hoc nature was part of its strength at the beginning, but the same thing was what prevented it from succeeding - just like all the other unstructured movements that we've seen in the last ten year, from Occupy to the Arab Spring. No structure means never having to take decisions about tactics or strategy, so that everything and nothing gets done. The Canning Town tube train issue wasn't an irredeemable failure in itself, but it seems like no-one learnt anything from the episode. It doesn't feel to me like XR has the faintest idea what to do now, when its "demands" have apparently all been met, and nothing has been done that will actually reduce emissions.

Watched on actual Netflix.