The Interrupters

It is no secret that youth violence is a problem in Chicago. In 2010 alone there were 435 reported homicides; that amounts to more deaths than there are days in a year. “The Interrupters” sheds a light on this frightening epidemic.

“The Interrupters” examines the prevalence of violence in Chicago, but instead of simply rehashing statistics, the film explores an effective solution – The Ceasefire program. Ceasefire is an organization that stops the spread of violence by interfering in conflicts that would otherwise result in homicide. The organization employs ex convicts and former gang members as Violence Interrupters who are trained to persuade youth from committing the same violent acts they once were convicted of.

The film spans an entire year, from the summer of 2009 to the spring of 2010. It follows the lives of three Violence Interrupters – Ameena, Cobe, and Eddie – and the young people whose lives they desperately hope to save. Each of these Violence Interrupters has had an extremely violent path and paid high price for it. Each also regularly puts their lives in danger in an effort to stop at least one young person from throwing their life away.

The Ceasefire program intervened in roughly 700 conflicts in 2010 and reported a decrease in gun violence in 100% of the neighborhoods in which they had a presence. So although at times this gritty documentary can be heart wrenching and stomach turning, it is also hopeful and inspirational. Viewers will not walk away from “The Interrupters” feeling as though they have simply watched a film. They will feel as though they experienced a blueprint, a model for impacting change within demoralized communities.

“I Am Slave” (Film Fest DC Review)

It is both a strength and weakness of “I Am Slave” that the subject matter is not yet on the public radar. Statistics quoted in this film state that there are roughly 5,000 women living in London working against their will. They are undocumented, unpaid, and invisible. Most of these women come from war torn countries in Africa, such as Sudan, sold as captives from raided villages. All are held against their will.

Based on the true story of Mende Nazer, “I Am Slave” is about a young Sudanese girl named Malia, played by the “model-esque” Wunmi Mosaku, who is taken from her family at the age of 12 when her small village is raided. She is forced to spend six years working for the cruel family of a diplomat. She is beaten, starved, and isolated on a regular basis. Her captors hide her passport and systematically instill within her a paralyzing fear.

Gabriel Range brings this magnificent film to life. The cinematography is stunning. Range brilliantly uses gorgeous African landscapes as well as dark and gritty shots of streets in Europe. He uses wide-angle lenses when shooting Malia’s homeland, creating a pristine image of her childhood memories. The raw and narrow shots that follow Malia through her enslavement are a jarring juxtaposition to the African sceens. These shots give the audience a visual representation of her confinement and limitations.

At times “I Am Slave” may seem to be slow moving. This is perhaps done to portray time as an abstraction, a technique Range has used in many of his films. Malia eloquently summarizes this in “ I Am Slave” by asking, “What is time? Who is to say that years are not but a moment?” This quote speaks to a major theme in this film as well as to Malia’s apparent coping mechanism. She survived as one does in prison, by using time as though it is open to interpretation.

This film is well written, beautifully shot, and perfectly scored. The subject matter is heavy but the story is real and therefore must be told. Slavery still exists but films, such as “I Am Slave”, that bring awareness to this issue are an important step in the direction of eradication.

Film Fest DC!!

It’s that time again!

DC’s annual International Film Festival kicked off last week with a lively opening gala.

The theme of this year’s festival is “For People Who Love Movies”. This theme couldn’t be any more appropriate. The festival will showcase 75 films, including documentaries and shorts, from all around the world. From comedies to dramas; human trafficking to religion; musicals to animation; this year’s film fest is sure to have something for everyone. There is even a film (We Were Here) that was screened and reviewed by yours truly at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.

If you’re in DC this week and seeking a break from the monotony that Hollywood is offering, check it out: http://www.filmfestdc.org/filmlist.cfm

Stay tuned for my DC Film Fest reviews in the coming weeks . . .