Brad’s Status: An internal journey we’ll all recognise

In a nutshell Brad takes his son to look at colleges.

That’s about it. That sums this film up nicely.

Not much else actually happens. You need know no more than that.

But sooo much happens.

It’s just that it happens on the inside. Bred goes on an internal existential journey that is so accurate it’s cringe-worthy.

You’re privy to his ongoing internal monologue and although it’s totally navel-gazing, it’s also very true of what we all do to some extent. I certainly do.

He sees all his old college buddies living the dream and posting their shiny photos on social media – and he ponders his life choices and his status in the world. He runs a not-for-profit company. It’s not glitzy but it’s what he believes in.

What’s quite joyous about the film is that you realise that all of Brad’s worries and concerns are first world problems – and in many ways that’s deeply reassuring.

He is only concerning himself with these things because he has nothing else to worry about. He has food, water, a home, a job – and because all of these deeply fundamental needs are met he has the ‘privilege’ to pursue the harder questions in life.

Could he have been more, could his life have taken a different turn, could he have made more of his time on the planet? He talks about his wife and how she is blissfully happy with very little. Wouldn’t that be a total joy – not to want to constantly strive to be more, to achieve more, to do more, to see more. To be simply happy with your serving of life.