The uprising in Ferguson, Missouri after the killing of Mike Brown is still fresh in people’s minds. It sparked a worldwide movement and had high-profile critics and supporters, and because all of this occurred in an era of slanted news coverage, it’s hard to get a clear idea of what it was without engaging personally.
That’s where Whose Streets? comes in. As a boots on the ground documentary, the film offers a first-person perspective on the emotions, aims, and actions of those who participated. That, obviously, won’t make for a balanced documentary, but the plunge into the crowd, complete with moving chants and outbursts of violence, offers a look most of us will never get otherwise.
The documentary is from a team of first-time filmmakers led by directors Sabaah Folayan and Damon Davis and with the support of the Sundance Institute’s various labs. After premiering to rave reviews at the Sundance Festival, the film is being released theatrically only three years after Brown’s death.
Whether the movie can attract a huge amount of attention like its subjects did remains to be seen, but the trailer does make clear that this isn’t intended to be a capstone on the movement. Questions remain unanswered, and the events in Ferguson were only the beginning.
Whose Streets? is directed by Sabaah Folayan and Damon Davis. It will be released in the U.S. on August 11th, 2017. further release dates are not currently known.
Are you interested in seeing Whose Streets? Let us know in the comments!
Does content like this matter to you?
Become a Member and support film journalism. Unlock access to all of Film Inquiry`s great articles. Join a community of like-minded readers who are passionate about cinema - get access to our private members Network, give back to independent filmmakers, and more.