Review of Hello Herman (2012) by Armando D — 18 Feb 2013

Usually the topics of bullying and school violence go unnoticed until an extreme incident like a school shooting occurs. Hello Herman is a film that helps recognize the issue and offer insight into its causes and implications.

Herman Howards is a 16 year-old boy in the not so distant future that performs one of the most tragic events in history. Lax Morales, famous blogger, receives an email from Herman just before he is taken away and asks Lax to interview him to hear his side of the story.

During the interview, the audience gets to look into the mind of a young bullied teen and his journey and choices leading up to the fateful day. The technical side of the film is extraordinary and makes this drama impactful and creates an emotional roller coaster for the audience.

The cinematography is shot in a way that brings the audience into the film nicely. The audience sees TV coverage from a news station and clips from Lax's video camera helps the audience feel comfortable and connected to the film.

The editing and choice of music keeps the audience's attention to the story. Director Michelle Danner takes on an issue that has been gaining significance since 2001 when the story was written. She has done a remarkable job of being able to balance the viewpoints of the people on both sides and her directing style has made Hello Herman a drama masterpiece.