The Great Disconnect – A Documentary on Why Community Is Essential for Our Health

Picture from the trailer for the film, The Great Disconnect

By Stephanie Talbott

As part of Community Development Halton’s 41st Anniversary celebration we offered a screening of The Great Disconnect.  This documentary is about something we don’t often talk about, but many, if not all of us, consistently feel: loneliness. It holds a powerful message showing how social isolation is more than just being alone; it is harmful to our health, even as damaging as smoking or living with a chronic illness. The film asks us to reflect on why this might have become such a widespread issue in North America and what we can do to change it.

The story begins with director Tamer Soliman’s visit to a small village in Jamaica. The cameras show how close-knit the families and neighbourhoods are, connecting over food, traditions, and daily community-driven activities. He was struck by how people with very few material possessions were still happy, healthy, and deeply connected to one another. That experience led him to look at life in North American cities, where wealth and independence are often valued more than community. Hearing this contrast made me think about how often we equate success with independence, even when it leaves us feeling more isolated.

Back in North America, the film walks through interviews with experts and everyday people, explaining how our choices and environments shape our connections. It shows how technology, the design of our neighbourhoods, access to green spaces, opportunities for play, the role of food, and even the way our economy measures progress all influence how connected or isolated we feel. Suburbs with long commutes and big houses separate us from our neighbours. Condos and high-rises may be filled with people, but empty hallways and floor-restrictive elevators leave residents feeling cut off and lonely. Technology makes it easy to stay in touch at a distance, but harder to truly engage with those beside us. Many people admitted that they don’t even know their neighbours’ names. I bet I'm not alone in thinking that admission feels uncomfortably familiar. I realized I could say the exact same thing about my own neighbourhood.

One of the most powerful moments in the film comes from South Central Los Angeles, where activist Ron Finley, known as the “Gangsta Gardener,” describes what it feels like to live in a place that looks the same day after day. He points out the liquor store, the fast food, the vacant lots, and how, when all you see is “ugly” every morning, it becomes familiar and normal, even if it’s slowly draining you. Then he asks us to imagine something different: waking up to meadows, flowers, hummingbirds, and beauty everywhere you look. That kind of change, he says, transforms not just the landscape, but the people who live there. Through gardening, Finley shows that green space isn’t just decoration; it gives us hope, pride, and a common land to tend to. It brings people of different cultures together to grow food, share traditions, and build communities where it might have seemed impossible.

Researchers in the film compare loneliness to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Sit with that statistic for a minute. We're all taught and reminded daily of how terrible smoking is for our health, but we neglect to teach how important community is for our health. People with strong social ties live longer, recover better from illness, and experience less stress. On the other hand, isolation drains motivation, lowers mood, and shortens our lifespan. Framing loneliness as a health related issue instead of just an emotional burden made the message of this film feel urgent and impossible to ignore.

However, the film remains hopeful. It highlights simple ways communities can come together and uplift one another. A woman in Vancouver decides to host a rooftop gathering in her condo building to help her neighbours connect. At first, no one shows up, but slowly people begin to arrive, and by the end, neighbours are bonding over snacks and shared experience. Next thing you know, they begin making plans for future events. This scene stood out most to me: the nervous wait at the beginning, the slow trickle of guests, and the relief when people finally connected. It captured how vulnerable the first steps toward community can feel, but also how powerful it becomes once people come together. 

What makes The Great Disconnect so powerful is its focus on everyday solutions. It reminds us that connection doesn’t always require large programs or policies. Sometimes it starts with saying hello to a stranger, planting something green, sharing food with a neighbour, or volunteering with others. These small acts can build the community and sense of belonging that so many of us are missing. It also challenges us to rethink what progress means. We’re used to measuring success in income, status, and growth, but the documentary points out that thriving really comes from social capital, the trust and relationships that hold us up when we’re most vulnerable. Without trust and the support of our communities, wealth alone leaves us isolated.

The film left me thinking about my own habits. Do I spend too much time on my phone instead of talking face to face? Do I know my neighbours’ names? Am I making time for the relationships that really matter? It shows that investing in our communities is just as important as exercising or taking care of our bodies, and maybe even more so.

In the end, The Great Disconnect is a reminder that we are social beings by nature. To live well, we need more than independence and success; we need each other. It’s a call not just to understand the problem, but to take small risks, say hello first, host the gathering, or show up for a neighbour in need. If you’ve ever felt lonely, walked past neighbours without knowing their names, or sensed that something vital was missing in your day-to-day life, this film is for you. And even if you already feel rooted in a strong community, The Great Disconnect is a powerful reminder of how essential those connections are to both our health and our sense of belonging.

To learn more about how you can watch the film check out the films website.

For a summary of the 41st Anniversary Event, please watch this news report by YourTV Halton