"It is a terrible thing to bear witness, but if we let these things continue to happen in the shadows, then they will happen forever. It’s only by bearing witness that things might change."
What we all need to hear right now. Heartfelt wishes to the Dias and Owens families as well.
I previewed this film last night and was riveted. I immediately watched the whole thing and could never look away.
This is documentary at its bravest. Ghandbhir has a deft touch with the editing, knowing exactly when to linger on a scene, when to pull off the pressure, and how to keep the viewer's attention on a certain thread. The bodycam footage is both mesmerizing and destabilizing--an ideal reflection of the moments it captures. Allowing the perpetrator to indict herself with her own words was a brilliant choice, no additional commentary necessary. I have never seen anything like this piece of filmmaking.
As a topic, yes, the killing is sensational and watching it is somewhat voyeuristic. But it is also utterly mundane, and fully unjustified. Was it fueled by a degree of mental illness underlying the racism and unchecked anger? Sure. But that highlights how laws like Stand Your Ground fail a society rife with undiagnosed and untreated mental illness. The variables and risk are too great to put justice--or retribution--in the hands of everyone. And let's just extrapolate to general gun ownership. The variables and risk are too great to allow everyone to own and use a gun.
I watched it tonight after reading this post. I’m glad justice was served. Terribly sad this woman died and those four beautiful kids lost their mother.
Both points--that justice can be served and that it took a woman's death to do it--show that we can and must reform our gun laws nationally. These carve-out laws should never be allowed.
"It is a terrible thing to bear witness, but if we let these things continue to happen in the shadows, then they will happen forever. It’s only by bearing witness that things might change."
What we all need to hear right now. Heartfelt wishes to the Dias and Owens families as well.
Meredith is a great journalist with no frills storytelling. I really like her articles.
I previewed this film last night and was riveted. I immediately watched the whole thing and could never look away.
This is documentary at its bravest. Ghandbhir has a deft touch with the editing, knowing exactly when to linger on a scene, when to pull off the pressure, and how to keep the viewer's attention on a certain thread. The bodycam footage is both mesmerizing and destabilizing--an ideal reflection of the moments it captures. Allowing the perpetrator to indict herself with her own words was a brilliant choice, no additional commentary necessary. I have never seen anything like this piece of filmmaking.
As a topic, yes, the killing is sensational and watching it is somewhat voyeuristic. But it is also utterly mundane, and fully unjustified. Was it fueled by a degree of mental illness underlying the racism and unchecked anger? Sure. But that highlights how laws like Stand Your Ground fail a society rife with undiagnosed and untreated mental illness. The variables and risk are too great to put justice--or retribution--in the hands of everyone. And let's just extrapolate to general gun ownership. The variables and risk are too great to allow everyone to own and use a gun.
I watched it tonight after reading this post. I’m glad justice was served. Terribly sad this woman died and those four beautiful kids lost their mother.
Both points--that justice can be served and that it took a woman's death to do it--show that we can and must reform our gun laws nationally. These carve-out laws should never be allowed.
I’m gonna watch. Thx.
What a good read! I found this article as mesmerizing as what I believe the documentary to be. Thank you.