Rupture and Race II: Films on police brutality in contemporary America

Join CentreCATH for a screening of short films concerning the growing awareness around racialized police brutality in contemporary America. A group discussion and small reception is to follow.

Film programme

Margaret Rorrison – ‘One Document for Hope’ (2015)

The sterile and procedural narrative of the Baltimore City Police Scanner recorded on Monday April 27 against precious moments of gathering, celebration and protest in Baltimore from April 28 – May 3, 2015.

Bashi Rose & Son of Nun – ‘It’s Like That’

The video provides a picture of how the city has been transformed over the past few years amid national unrest over high-profile cases of police killings of unarmed Black people.

While most people associate the city with the TV series “The Wire” and the massive protests after the police killing of Freddie Gray, the mini-documentary “reveals what people on the front lines are doing to make their city better, regardless of who’s in office”.

Carlos Javier Ortiz – ‘We All We Got’ (2014)

‘We All We Got’ captures the poetic language of the streets: police helicopters flying over the city, music popping out of cars, people talking shit on the street corners, ambulances on the run, and preachers hollering for the violence to stop after another young man is senselessly gunned down in the streets of Chicago.

In the context of the Black Lives Matter movement, and the country’s recent focus on youth violence, police brutality, poverty and marginalized communities, ‘We All We Got’ is an elegy of urban America. The film is an intimate portrait of people affected by violence: including community activists, kids, and cops. It navigates the tragedy and persistence of families impacted by violence. , the perseverance of affected families, and the outpouring support of local leaders and residents who highlight these social issues in Chicago.

Zinhle Essamuah – ‘Hands Up’ (2015)

‘Hands Up’ the documentary captures the spirit of the #BlackLivesMatter movement as it transcends state boundaries and into the hearts of millions of Americans. The film documents the stories of clergy and activists who are igniting a passion for justice and peace.

As network news framed the conversation following the death of Michael Brown, director Zinhle Essamuah took to the streets of Ferguson, Missouri in pursuit of authentic stories from individuals on the ground. In Ferguson, clashes of gender and religion persist — How do clergy begin the process of reconciliation? Where do youth find hope?

With high profile killings and beatings of unarmed black people around the country occurring regularly, Essamuah questions the silence of her peers and recognize the importance of including her own voice in the film. Her search for answers leads the story to Maryland, where the death of Freddie Gray spurs protests and riots in Baltimore.

Register here on Eventbrite.

This film screening is brought to you by CentreCATH and the School of Fine Art, History of Art, and Cultural Studies at the University of Leeds. It is the third in a series of screenings on Race and Ruture.

For more information, email Marlo De Lara.

Image courtesy of Margaret Rorrison