Own the Room parents guide

Own the Room Parent Guide

This is the kind of movie that will make viewers feel good about the future.

Overall A-

Disney+: This documentary follows five entrepreneurs as they compete in a global competition for a business idea that can change the world. With a $100,000 grand prize, they're all in.

Release date March 12, 2021

Violence B+
Sexual Content A
Profanity A-
Substance Use B-

Why is Own the Room rated Not Rated? The MPAA rated Own the Room Not Rated

Run Time: 91 minutes

Parent Movie Review

Along with millions of other weary viewers, I have spent the coronavirus pandemic binge-watching seasons of The Great British Baking Show. There’s something about the kindness of the oh-so-nice contestants that provides a blissful escape from the realities of covid. If you’re also looking for an alternative to the stressful realities of 2021 and want to watch a real-life story of bright, helpful people who will fill you with hope for the future, Own the Room is just the documentary for you.

Made by National Geographic and streaming on Disney+, Own the Room is the inspiring story of five young entrepreneurs competing against dozens of other national champs to win the 2019 Global Student Entrepreneur Awards competition held in Macau, China. The prize is $100,000 but to win it, the victor will have to prove that his or her business idea has the power to change the world.

I must admit that this documentary put me smack in the middle of a dilemma: I wanted all of the young people to win. There’s Henry from Kenya, developer of a student housing app, with a big smile and fierce determination, who struggles against opposition none of the other contestants face. Then comes Alondra from Puerto Rico, who has developed an app to help the deaf access medical care, and who’s determined to help rebuild her island after Hurricane Maria. There’s Santosh, an ebullient Nepalese whose business tries to spread happiness amongst his fellow citizens. We also meet Jason, a confident engineer from Greece who is using technology to help parents interpret their babies’ cries. And finally, there’s Daniela, a soft-spoken student from Venezuela, who is pursuing her PhD in New York and has developed technology that can make the chemical industry more profitable and less environmentally destructive. Watching this movie made me wish I had a Jeff Bezos-sized fortune so I could invest in all these amazing young people.

There’s no denying that Own the Room is the kind of movie that will make you feel good about the world. The dedication, diligence, and charm of the young entrepreneurs are infectious and will uplift those who watch the movie. In fact, the documentary is replete with the kind of messages that parents and teachers want teens to see. Who doesn’t want teens to learn from people who are committed to changing the world and are willing to work extremely hard to achieve their goals? As Henry says, “If opportunity won’t knock on your door, break the wall.”

Directed by Cristina Costantini and Darren Foster. Starring Daniela Blanco, Henry Onyango, and Alondra Toledo. Running time: 91 minutes. Theatrical release March 12, 2021. Updated

Watch the trailer for Own the Room

Own the Room
Rating & Content Info

Why is Own the Room rated Not Rated? Own the Room is rated Not Rated by the MPAA

Violence: There are scenes of street protests and police oppression of protesters in Venezuela.
Sexual Content:
Profanity: There is a single term of deity in the film and a minor curse word.
Alcohol / Drug Use: People drink alcohol with a meal. People drink alcohol in a celebration.

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Own the Room Parents' Guide

Do you agree with the judge’s decision? Who would you have given the award to? Why do you think their business idea has the power to change the world?

Have you ever had an idea for a business that you think fills a need? What are you doing to make your idea become a reality?

To learn more about the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards or to apply for the 2021/2022 season, click here.

 

Home Video

Related home video titles:

For another documentary about a young person who is changing the world, you can watch He Named Me Malala.

Teenagers set out to change the world by using the power of politics in Parkland Rising and Us Kids.

Joy tells the real life story of a single mother who uses her entrepreneurial skills to provide for her children.

Related news about Own the Room

Coming to Disney+: March 2021

Coming to Disney+: March 2021

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