Documentary Explores Empty Bedrooms of School Shooting Victims

A new documentary titled All the Empty Rooms, set to premiere on Netflix on December 1, 2023, delves into the lives lost to school shootings in the United States. The film follows journalist Steve Hartman and photographer Lou Bopp as they travel across the country to visit the bedrooms of children who have been killed in these tragic events. Directed by Joshua Seftel, this poignant project took seven years to complete.

The documentary aims to illuminate the profound absence left by gun violence, showcasing the untouched bedrooms that serve as powerful reminders of the lives cut short. The synopsis describes Hartman’s departure from his typical heartwarming stories to pursue a deeper exploration of absence, memory, and the impact of America’s gun violence epidemic.

As noted in the synopsis, “As these senseless incidents claim more young lives than any other cause in America, these quiet bedrooms reveal truths more powerful than statistics ever could.” The film seeks to evoke emotional responses and foster a greater understanding of the human cost of gun violence.

The trailer for All the Empty Rooms has already garnered attention, receiving accolades from film festivals such as the Montclair Film Festival and the Santa Fe International Film Festival. It features Hartman visiting the homes of families who have suffered devastating losses, capturing the emotional weight of the unchanged rooms that belonged to the children.

Feedback from viewers has been overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing that the trailer struck a chord. One viewer commented, “This will not be easy to watch but I feel it needs to be viewed. It honors the children by illustrating in such an intimate way that these were lives, not just names and ages.” Another remarked, “The hardest thing to watch… you will cry. But more importantly, our tears will dry while these families’ tears will forever be in their souls.”

The director, Seftel, shared his motivation for the project, explaining that he began to feel numb to the frequency of school shootings. After receiving a call from Hartman, with whom he had collaborated 25 years earlier, the two decided to embark on this meaningful journey. They visited the sites of multiple school shootings and met with the parents of the victims, allowing them to connect with the children “through the rooms they left behind.”

As anticipation builds for the documentary’s release, many believe it will serve as a crucial piece of viewing for those seeking to understand the personal impact of gun violence. As one viewer suggested, “Every single person in congress should be made to watch this video. Perhaps then we will have stronger laws against gun violence.”

With its heartfelt storytelling, All the Empty Rooms promises to be a significant contribution to the ongoing dialogue about gun violence in America, inviting viewers to reflect on the lives that have been forever altered by these tragedies.