A husband and wife band drives to each of the fifty states (I know, I know). Their goal is to spread messages of love, peace, harmony, and unity through their actions and their music. As they travel the country they meet new people, encounter a series of obstacles, and learn more about themselves than they ever expected. State of the Unity is their journey toward bringing the divided country together.
When I heard the premise of the film, when I heard that a married couple planned to travel the country and spread ideas of peace and love by way of music, I immediately thought that these individuals were nuts. I imagined that Jillian Speece and Nathaniel Paul Hoff would be nothing short of hippies that had somehow managed to lose touch with reality–but I couldn’t have been more wrong. This young couple has adopted a way of life that many may turn their noses up to, but the way in which they present themselves, the way in which they interact with the rest of the world is so commendable and relatable. They are the perfect subjects for State of the Unity, and their ability to articulate their goals and their passions makes it easy for viewers to find their way into the film.
State of the Unity is about unifying the country, about finding common ground and finding ways to connect people in a world that seems to be drifting apart. However, what it’s also about is Jillian and Nathaniel. It’s so important that the film presents the couple in a way that allows viewers to remember that they aren’t just artists, they aren’t characters in a documentary–but that they, too, are human. While, at the heart of the film, music is what makes it drive forward, more than anything else viewers are able to see the couple on their journey. State of the Unity shows the couple meeting new people, having those people sign their car (which is chaotic and stresses me out–but that’s just me), and dealing with unexpected hurdles that continue to present themselves throughout the course of this trip. More than anything else, viewers are able to see the couple as people rather than musicians–and that really allows viewers the ability to fully access the content and its purpose.
The thing that always baffles me when it comes to documentaries is the ability of the film crew to wiggle their way into the most unfortunate and uncomfortable places. Unlike a narrative, where you have the ability to try again and again until it’s right, documentary filmmakers are forced to roll with the punches and hope to get just the right shot at just the right time. Showcasing the journey present in State of the Unity had to have been one of the more challenging aspects of the film–but the group of cinematographers does a stellar job of capturing just about everything. If there’s anything missing, the editing team did a wonderful job of hiding it–as State of the Unity remains cohesive throughout, capturing everything of importance throughout this massive expedition.
The issue with this film comes toward the end–when it takes one step over the line and manages to be divisive itself. The whole purpose of the film is to create unity and combat division. What happens when the duo makes their way to a Cleveland, Ohio suburb is they become part of a performance, by accident (but they become part of it nonetheless)–and as a result of that State of the Unity finds itself, for just a few minutes, becoming part of the thing that they are trying to fight. This is effectively a small blip in the grand scheme of the film, but it makes an impression, and it’s not a good one.
If you’re able to look past the tiny oversight toward the end of State of the Unity then this is a massively effective, incredibly appealing documentary. However, if you’re like me, if you’re the type of person that struggles to get past hypocrisy, even the smallest amount, then State of the Unity takes a massive hit in its final act. With that being said, however, I don’t think there is any doubt that Jillian and Nathaniel are effective in their journey, that even with a minor hiccup coming at an inopportune time, the musical couple achieves their goal, reaches millions of individuals in the process, and helps to develop an enticing and accessible film along the way.
Directed by Nathaniel Paul Hoff & Jillian Speece.
Starring Nathaniel Paul Hoff, Jillian Speece, David Anderson Hooker, Patrick Ashton, Marcy Kaptur, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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