Behind the Curve
{{Short description|2018 American documentary film by Daniel J. Clark}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Behind the Curve poster.jpg
| caption = Promotional release poster
| director = Daniel J. Clark
| producer = Caroline Clark
Nick Andert
Daniel J. Clark
| starring = Mark Sargent
Patricia Steere
| music = Bryan Ricker
| editing = Nick Andert
| studio = Delta-v Productions
| released = {{Film date|2018|11|15}}
| runtime = 95 minutes
| country = United States
| language = English
}}
Behind the Curve is a 2018 documentary film about flat Earth believers in the United States. Directed by Daniel J. Clark, the film was released in the United States on November 15, 2018, and for wide release on Netflix in February 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://ew.com/movies/2019/03/01/behind-the-curve-netflix-interview/|title=Director of 'Behind the Curve' shares how to argue with people who believe the earth is flat|last=Schwartz|first=Dana|date=March 1, 2019|website=EW.com|language=en|access-date=2019-04-13|archive-date=2019-04-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413172956/https://ew.com/movies/2019/03/01/behind-the-curve-netflix-interview/|url-status=live}}
The documentary details ideas of the flat Earth from different perspectives, including prominent flat-Earthers Mark Sargent and Patricia Steere,{{Cite web|url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/netflix-flat-earth-documentary-behind-the-curve-conspiracy-theorists|title=The subjects of the Flat Earth documentary Behind the Curve are trolling you to victory|last=Gilman|first=Greg|date=March 7, 2019|website=SYFY WIRE|access-date=2019-04-13|archive-date=2019-04-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413181114/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/netflix-flat-earth-documentary-behind-the-curve-conspiracy-theorists|url-status=live}} as well as astrophysicists from universities including UCLA and Caltech.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/behind-curve-netflix-ending-light-experiment-mark-sargent-documentary-movie-1343362|title=Flat Earthers disprove themselves with their own experiments in documentary 'Behind the Curve,' now on Netflix|last=Whalen|first=Andrew|date=February 25, 2019|website=Newsweek|access-date=2019-04-13|archive-date=2019-04-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409121129/https://www.newsweek.com/behind-curve-netflix-ending-light-experiment-mark-sargent-documentary-movie-1343362|url-status=live}} It features clips from the 2017 International Flat Earth Conference, held in North Carolina, US, which attracted hundreds of attendees from around the globe.{{Cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a26819931/flat-earth-science-behind-the-curve-netflix-mark-sargent-patricia-steere/|title=Behind the Curve proves flat-earthers are actually good scientists|last=Turner|first=Laura Jane|date=March 14, 2019|website=Digital Spy|access-date=2019-04-11|archive-date=2019-04-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411114432/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a26819931/flat-earth-science-behind-the-curve-netflix-mark-sargent-patricia-steere/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2019/03/behind-the-curve-a-fascinating-study-of-reality-challenged-beliefs/|title=Behind the Curve a fascinating study of reality-challenged beliefs|last=Timmer|first=John|date=March 17, 2019|website=Ars Technica|access-date=2019-04-11|archive-date=2019-03-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330121906/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2019/03/behind-the-curve-a-fascinating-study-of-reality-challenged-beliefs/|url-status=live}}
Synopsis
Behind the Curve primarily focuses on flat Earth proponent Mark Sargent, and his life as an active member of the flat Earth community. Sargent discusses his interpretation of flat Earth theory, and his role as an advocate, as well as his series of YouTube videos and podcasts. It also follows Sargent as he attends various flat Earth gatherings. Other flat Earth believers featured include Patricia Steere, creator of the podcast Flat Earth and Other Hot Potatoes; and Jeran Campanella and Bob Knodel, creators of the GlobeBusters YouTube channel.
Professionals in the scientific community, including astronaut Scott Kelly, are interviewed about their views on the flat Earth conspiracy theory, and to discuss the current scientific views on conspiracy theories and the possible consequences of a lack of critical thinking in society.
In the film, flat Earth advocates carry out experiments to test the hypothesis that the Earth is flat, the results of which confirm that the Earth is a globe, and so are discarded. The film also covers several conferences and meet-ups that the film's subjects attend, including the 2017 International Flat Earth Conference, held in Raleigh, North Carolina.
When director Clark was asked in an interview about lessons from the film he said, "My dream would be that when people watch it, they take flat Eartherism as an analogy to something they believe in, because it's so easy to demonize another group or another person for something they think but you're kind of just as guilty if you do that."{{cite web |last1=Schwartz |first1=Dana |title=Director of Behind the Curve shares how to argue with people who believe the earth is flat |url=https://ew.com/movies/2019/03/01/behind-the-curve-netflix-interview/ |website=ew.com |accessdate=13 April 2019 |archive-date=13 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413172956/https://ew.com/movies/2019/03/01/behind-the-curve-netflix-interview/ |url-status=live }}
Release
Behind the Curve was first released at Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, Toronto, Canada, on April 30, 2018. It has since been screened at various film festivals around the world.{{cite web |title=Upcoming Screenings |url=https://www.behindthecurvefilm.com/screenings |website=www.behindthecurvefilm.com |accessdate=16 April 2019 |archive-date=16 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416204212/https://www.behindthecurvefilm.com/screenings |url-status=live }}
Reception
The film has received positive reviews from critics. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the documentary holds a {{RT data|score}} approval rating based on {{RT data|count|spell=y}} reviews, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/behind_the_curve|title=Behind the Curve (2018)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Fandango|access-date={{RT data|access date}}|archive-date=2019-04-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424181031/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/behind_the_curve|url-status=live}}
Reviews described the film as "hilarious, informative, but pressing"{{Cite web|url=https://theplaylist.net/behind-the-curve-laff-review-20180930/|title=Round Or Flat, 'Behind The Curve' Prevails As One Of The Most Fun & Intriguing Documentaries Of The Year [LAFF Review]|last=Kohner|first=Kyle|date=September 30, 2018|website=theplaylist.net|access-date=2019-04-11|archive-date=2019-04-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411114431/https://theplaylist.net/behind-the-curve-laff-review-20180930/|url-status=live}} and "empathetic",{{Cite web|url=http://filmthreat.com/reviews/behind-the-curve/|title=Behind the Curve|last=Ng|first=Alan|date=November 15, 2018|website=Film Threat|access-date=2019-04-11|archive-date=2019-04-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411114436/http://filmthreat.com/reviews/behind-the-curve/|url-status=live}} with several commentators praising its "humanistic look at some of the most ridiculed people in America".{{Cite web|url=https://filmschoolrejects.com/behind-the-curve-review/|title='Behind the Curve' Review: Explore the Minds and Hearts of Flat Earth Theorists|last=Singgih|first=Pierce|date=October 5, 2018|website=Film School Rejects|access-date=2019-04-11|archive-date=2019-04-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411114436/https://filmschoolrejects.com/behind-the-curve-review/|url-status=live}}
After the release of the film, Sargent and Steere both claimed their fanbase has grown considerably.{{Cite web|url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/netflix-flat-earth-documentary-behind-the-curve-conspiracy-theorists|title=The subjects of the Flat Earth documentary Behind the Curve are trolling you to victory|first=Greg|last=Gilman|date=March 7, 2019|website=SYFY WIRE|access-date=April 13, 2019|archive-date=April 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413181114/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/netflix-flat-earth-documentary-behind-the-curve-conspiracy-theorists|url-status=live}}
References
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