The Stand-By Generation

In 2006, Puerto Rico suffered an economic crisis more severe than any in the country's history, adding up to a national debt estimated at 73 billion dollars in 2016. This has created a bleak situation for the titular “stand-by” generation, many of whom—despite a college education and advanced degrees—have put their dreams on hold. This brief documentary offers a glimpse into the lives of two affected young people who are trying to find their way despite hardships. One is director Juan C. Davila, an employee of a Sam's Club, who struggles with a work schedule that may be 20 hours one week and just a handful the next. His employers told him, “you signed a contract and now your time has become ours.” The other is Dávila, a weightlifter, who is also politically active as a municipal legislator in Moca as a member of the Puerto Rican Independence Party. The individual sketches are compelling, but the film only hints at vital topics (student strikes, attempts at organized labor formation, and other protests) that would have presented a deeper understanding of the wider effects on the stand-by generation. A strong optional purchase. Aud: C, P. (C. Block)