To Be Destroyed follows author Dave Eggers as he meets with students and teachers in the Rapid City, SD school district where his novel, “The Circle,” was pulled from shelves along with works by Alison Bechdel (Fun Home), Stephen Chbosky (Perks of Being a Wallflower), Bernardine Evaristo (Girl, Woman, Other) and Imbolo Mbue (How Beautiful We Were).
Centered on what young adults should or shouldn’t be exposed to, the book-banning movement targeted literature written about or by members of the LGBTQ+ community and people of color. Through intense footage of school board showdowns, community activism, and poignant interviews, the film unveils power struggles and resistance in the face of censorship. As Eggers navigates this landscape, we learn how these ideas resonate far beyond the borders of Rapid City, quietly permeating our entire nation in both troubling and inspiring ways.
“To Be Destroyed” premieres Sunday August 11 at 9pm ET on MSNBC
Directed by: Arthur Bradford
Produced by: Jennifer Ollman
Executive Producers: Rashida Jones, Rebecca Kutler, Amanda Spain, Loren Hammonds, Dave O’Connor, Elizabeth Waller, Trevor Noah, Sanaz Yamin, Michael Sugar, Ashley Zalta, David Hillman, Norman Aladjem, Derek Van Pelt
Dave Eggers: Banned Books
Deadline: Dave Eggers’ “To Be Destroyed” Leads MSNBC Films Slate
Full 31-minute documentary (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8AECXju6yc
