From One Second to the Next (2013)

"From One Second to the Next", by the renowned documentarian Werner Herzog, is a powerful short on the most tragic consequences resulting in people texting while driving. Herzog takes the subject that while serious may appear too general or simplistic a topic, and makes it a really personal, moving experience, showing both side of several very sad incidents. The interviews of both loved ones of victims, and of those whose texting caused tragedies (those who were willing to speak) are very powerful and moving.Beyond all this is a dire warning to anyone who has this reckless habit to get away with it right away, and those haven't garnered it to make sure they don't start. No words which you can wait to say later—it can only take one word, an abbreviation of a few letters—can ever be worth the needless taking of a human life.

This is a 2013 documentary short film by German director Werner Herzog. Back in the 1960s and 1970s, he actually made a couple short films, so this was a bit of back to the roots for him now at the age of 70. This film is about car accident, more specifically those who happen because one of the victims is on the phone texting. We hear a handful stories, each roughly seven minutes by relatives of dead people, people who got severely injured and their family, but also by people who texted during driving and caused a car crash this way. No matter which side you're on, the one texting or an innocent victim, this will crucially change your life for the worse. You will die. You will have severe injuries. Or you will just have to live with the guilt, let alone the legal consequences you are about to face. These are all very sad examples of what could happen. The saddest in my opinion was the one with the woman who got severely injured and her dog got killed. She lived, but she will be disabled for the rest of her life and the girl who is responsibly got away with hardly no punishment at all. She did not appear in front of a camera because her lawyer instructed her that way, but also she will have to live with the guilt. I don't know how famous this documentary would be without its director and I don't think there is a real Herzog touch of it like it is the case for most of the other films he made, but the message stays the same: Do not text and drive or you could lose all you have.

From One Second to the Next (2013) **** (out of 4) This 34-minute documentary was produced by the major phone companies as a way to push their message of not texting and driving. The film talks to several people who were the cause of deadly accidents or the victim of such accidents due to someone texting while driving.These type of educational films have been around for decades and more often than not they're pretty laughable and over-dramatic to the point where they're viewed today as something to have a party with while watching. That's certainly not the case with this one but that should be expected since you've got a filmmaker like Werner Herzog behind the camera. Without question he's one of the greatest filmmakers to ever live and there's no doubt that he knows how to make an emotional documentary. This film here certainly nails home its message of "waiting" to text and I think it's going to have an impact on whoever watches it. That doesn't mean it's going to make people stop texting while driving but I think the filmmaker and producers would be happy even if it just saved one life.The stories told are pretty heartbreaking to watch and the entire film has a very somber, cold and depressing feel to it. Some have criticized it for showing redemption but I think that really misses the point. After all, life has to go on after such traumatic events and I think Herzog is simply showing the impact of one's actions and what life will be like trying to move past it. The story are all extremely well-told and for the most part the film is pretty flawless from a technical stand point. If you're familiar with the work of Herzog then you'll know that a lot of times during his documentaries he's on screen talking to the people being interviewed. It's curious to see he doesn't do that here and instead just lets the people tell their stories.FROM ONE SECOND TO THE NEXT certainly has a message behind it and Herzog brings that point across with ease.

I'm sorry but as a documentary filmmaker Herzog did impress me more than what he does as a narrative filmmaker. This is a very effective documentary that should be shown to everyone in this day and age.First of all I really enjoyed hearing the side of the story not only of the victims, but also of people who have done it. It is almost impossible to not feel sorry for these people. All of them present the heartbreaking effects of texting while driving. I will be absolutely surprised if this does not get nominated for the "Best short Documentary" at the Academy Awards.So if you are up to date in society's technology. Watch this movie. The message is as clear as day but unlike something like a Michael Moore documentary, this time it is genuine.