Before we even shape our world, our world has firmly shaped us.

The Lottery of Birth is the first in a three part documentary series Creating Freedom that seeks to expose the underlying forces at work in society that form our identity. Tracing through the narrative of life from birth, and on through education and employment, the film highlights how we are channelled down prescribed pathways. Without questioning the values that we take for granted, the film argues, we are trapped within a situation over which we have no control, and in which we have no freedom.

The film struck a good balance between hard-hitting facts, poignant cinematography, expert commentary and a well-placed musical score. First-time director Raoul Martinez had brought together an all-star cast of academics and analysts, from historians Tony Benn and Howard Zinn to experimental psychologist Steven Pinker and journalist George Monbiot. This was a real credit to the film, and the project as a whole - what could be dismissed by the media as radical fringe ideas were given a real presence and gravitas by the high profile speakers involved.

Particularly relevant was the discussion of education. The Lottery of Birth characterised education as preparing people for predetermined roles in society. A strong criticism of schooling was that it is biased towards one's culture, and so rarely do we hear both sides of the story. This is particularly resonant in the early stages of life, when children are impressionable and may be led to believe anything. However, in a room full of university students who constantly strive to question, to unmask, to reveal the truth in their subjects, the claim that education is always restrictive fell flat.

I would agree that received opinions dominate in early education, but The Lottery of Birth gave little credit to the positive impact of a rigorous and challenging higher education. This was particularly surprising, given the position of many of the commentators as the leading thinkers and teachers of our time. Working life was treated to a similarly radical exposure, but was equally slightly limited in focus. In a democracy, the lack of democratic values in companies and corporations was rightly highlighted. The power we allow employers to have over their workers is quite shocking when you consider it. In the same way, it is easy forget, particularly when leaving university and seeking employment, that your career is the biggest project of your whole life - there is nothing else to which you will give so much time, effort and commitment.

With this in mind, The Lottery of Birth challenges us to reflect and self analyse at all times, in order to make a positive change. A criticism again of the project is that it seems to ignore those who are already trying to make a difference - perhaps, the film feels there is no need to acknowledge those who already live by the maxim of self-assessment and criticism.

In the Q&A with director Raoul Martinez that followed the film showing, one question was burning to be answered: is it too much to ask for people to abandon the comfortable state of conformity and attempt to challenge all the values they hold close? His answer: if freedom is an important ideal to you, you must fight for it to be realised. A very ambitious project, and one that may struggle to find appeal.

However, as Hassam Bassam, a second-year student at Emmanuel commented, "I believe its main goal was to instill a sense of optimism in its viewers, to the point that they would drive for genuine change". Perhaps there is hope for a radical overhaul of our values, if we can challenge ourselves to always ask: why?