Whose Streets?

Whose Streets? is a 2017 American documentary film directed by Sabaah Folayan and Damon Davis, which explores the Ferguson unrest and the Black Lives Matter movement, featuring interviews with Brittany Ferrell, Tef Poe, and Kayla Reed. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was later screened at the SXSW festival, where it received critical acclaim from The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times. The documentary also features footage of protests and riots in St. Louis, Missouri, and interviews with local activists, including Bassem Masri and DeRay Mckesson. The film's title is inspired by the Black Panther Party's slogan, and it explores the intersection of Civil Rights Movement and modern-day activism, referencing the work of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.

Introduction

Whose Streets? provides an intimate look at the lives of activists and community leaders in Ferguson, Missouri, including Montague Simmons and Melissa Harris-Perry, as they navigate the aftermath of the Shooting of Michael Brown and the subsequent Ferguson unrest. The film features footage of protests and demonstrations, including the Million Man March and the Justice for Trayvon Martin movement, and explores the role of social media in modern-day activism, citing the influence of Twitter and Facebook on the Arab Spring and the Occupy Wall Street movement. The documentary also examines the history of racial tension in St. Louis, Missouri, referencing the East St. Louis riots and the St. Louis riot. The film's narrative is intertwined with the stories of Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, and Sandra Bland, highlighting the systemic issues of Police brutality and Racial profiling in the United States, as discussed by Cornel West and Angela Davis.

Production

The production of Whose Streets? was a collaborative effort between Sabaah Folayan and Damon Davis, who worked closely with local activists and community leaders to capture the essence of the Ferguson unrest and the Black Lives Matter movement. The film features original music by Tef Poe and Damon Davis, and was edited by Sabaah Folayan and Chris McNabb. The documentary was produced in association with ITVS and Just Films, and received funding from the Ford Foundation and the MacArthur Foundation. The film's production team included Field Producer Jennifer McBride, who worked with Cinematographer Lucas Alvarado-Farrar to capture the footage of protests and demonstrations, including the Baltimore riots and the Charlotte uprising. The film's score was composed by Damon Davis and features music by Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole.

Release

Whose Streets? premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2017, where it received critical acclaim from The Hollywood Reporter and Variety (magazine). The film was later screened at the SXSW festival, where it won the Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature, and was also screened at the Tribeca Film Festival and the Hot Docs festival. The documentary was released theatrically in the United States by Magnolia Pictures and was distributed by Amazon Studios, and is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video and Hulu. The film's release was accompanied by a series of screenings and panel discussions, featuring Sabaah Folayan and Damon Davis in conversation with Ta-Nehisi Coates and Bryan Stevenson.

Reception

Whose Streets? received widespread critical acclaim upon its release, with many praising the film's intimate and nuanced portrayal of the Ferguson unrest and the Black Lives Matter movement. The film holds a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with many critics praising the film's cinematography and editing, citing the influence of Frederick Wiseman and D.A. Pennebaker. The film was also praised by The Washington Post and The Guardian, who noted the film's importance in documenting the Civil Rights Movement and the Black Lives Matter movement, referencing the work of W.E.B. Du Bois and Frantz Fanon. The documentary was nominated for several awards, including the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival and the Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special, and won the Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Documentary.

Themes

Whose Streets? explores several themes, including the intersection of Civil Rights Movement and modern-day activism, referencing the work of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. The film also examines the role of social media in modern-day activism, citing the influence of Twitter and Facebook on the Arab Spring and the Occupy Wall Street movement. The documentary highlights the systemic issues of Police brutality and Racial profiling in the United States, as discussed by Cornel West and Angela Davis, and explores the history of racial tension in St. Louis, Missouri, referencing the East St. Louis riots and the St. Louis riot. The film's narrative is intertwined with the stories of Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, and Sandra Bland, and features interviews with Brittany Ferrell, Tef Poe, and Kayla Reed, who discuss the importance of Community organizing and Grassroots activism in bringing about social change, citing the influence of The Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. Category:Documentary films