One of the most remarkable video tributes I've ever seen. Obviously the Summerhill School environment has achieved its goals with one person.

The music sets the mood and pace. The opening shots set the scene with a great use of perspective and the sense that those attending were not herded to the moment but were going willingly and with a mixture of playfulness and seriousness. It tells the story from the point of view of someone standing in line and slowly moving closer to the memorial. The perspective starts out standing up but looking down but then lower and looking across and finally the camera has a chance to spend a moment at the memorial. But these were children. They chose to bring the Lady Bugs. But why? Because they liked them ... probably because they reminded them of something happy that they, too, would like and would like to give. It's evocative of childhood, not something an adult would typically take to a memorial, even a birthday remembrance. It speaks well of the philosophy of trusting the children to speak for themselves.

All of the ages are captured and emotions of each age are recorded in a way that shows the emotions typically found with each age. The amount of reflectiveness seen throughout the group in their faces and in their body language subtly tells the story of a memorial attended for sincere reasons rather than mere social convention. At the same time, the behavior shows this is perplexing and those who came are wondering how to feel about it; even how to act. The entire business of childhood perplexity seems summed up in the body language of the boy with the red sweater over his shoulder. Whether intentional or not, the young girl in the lime-green shirt ties all this together more generally: her personal behavior, then looking around and moving around to observe how others are behaving in this situation.

The video has a great sense of flowing: close ups of faces to full-length shots, group shots, soft shots evocative of undecided emotions to crisp shots of clearly settled understandings. The transitional device, the consistent use of diffuse, bright flashes, is excellent for the situation. Being used consistently it is soon a visual transition rather than a distraction.

Finally, there is the ending. Yes, after a moment to remember and say thank you, the crowd does leave and the cemetery does empty and the person remembered is left alone, something we often don't see. He isn't really there. We are. Then it fades out cleanly.

The author created a remarkable piece of video. A lot of time and thought had to have gone into the planning. There had to have been a lot of thinking ahead to develop an organizing theme and to pre-plan the shots that will be required. It's not all grab shots although some of it is. The video is infused with insight, fine technique and woven together with superb editing to capture the spirit of the moment, the spirit of the group and yet preserve the unique spirit of the individuals. Thank you for posting.