"From slave to criminal with one amendment." This is 13th. This documentary by director Ava DuVernay. In this thought-provoking documentary, scholars, activists and politicians analyze the criminalization of African Americans and the U.S. prison boom.
The film explores the "intersection of race, justice, and mass incarceration in the United States;" it is titled after the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, adopted in 1865, which abolished slavery throughout the United States and ended involuntary servitude except as a punishment for conviction of a crime. DuVernay contends that slavery has been perpetuated since the end of the American Civil War through criminalizing behavior and enabling police to arrest poor freedmen and force them to work for the state under convict leasing; suppression of African Americans by disenfranchisement, lynchings and Jim Crow; politicians declaring a war on drugs that weigh more heavily on minority communities and, by the late 20th century, mass incarceration of people of color in the United States. She examines the prison-industrial complex and the emerging detention-industrial complex, discussing how much money is being made by corporations from such incarcerations.
Fueled by a gripping testimonies, 13th draws inspiration and dramatic power from the lives and deaths of many African-Americans – but doesn't ignore how far we remain from the ideals their fights embodied. The film is an important history lesson that never feels like a lecture. Once school is back in session, every junior high school class in America should take a field trip to see this movie. At its best, DuVernay's biographical film honors those who fought for equal rights and were oppressed by documenting the racist brutality that spurred many African-Americans to action. Even if you think you know what's coming, the film hums with suspense and surprise. Packed with incident and overflowing with fascinating characters, it is a triumph of efficient, emphatic cinematic storytelling. In bringing together the personal, the political, and the historic, DuVernay has crafted a film that will be remembered and studied for years to come. The film offers not only a superbly-realized presentation of a particular series of events, but also a sense of what it meant to live through the historical period in question. As director, DuVernay employs a style of storytelling that makes it possible for audiences to find the film engrossing, entertaining, and educational. In a time where dedicated activists are speaking their own truths to leaders who are often even less responsive, movies such as Selma feel more essential than ever. The film's cultural significance is critical and will inevitably permeate all conversations about the film. As a reviewer, I must stress that its cinematic value speaks for itself, even when you swipe away the context of today's struggles. The film serves as a pointed and poignant riposte to our current historical moment. It's an important film about an important story. It deserves to be seen, shared, discussed, and, like the events it depicts, never forgotten. With 13th, director DuVernay has created a stirring, often thrilling, uncannily timely drama that works on several levels at once.
Simon says 13th receives:
Also, see my review for Selma.
Fueled by a gripping testimonies, 13th draws inspiration and dramatic power from the lives and deaths of many African-Americans – but doesn't ignore how far we remain from the ideals their fights embodied. The film is an important history lesson that never feels like a lecture. Once school is back in session, every junior high school class in America should take a field trip to see this movie. At its best, DuVernay's biographical film honors those who fought for equal rights and were oppressed by documenting the racist brutality that spurred many African-Americans to action. Even if you think you know what's coming, the film hums with suspense and surprise. Packed with incident and overflowing with fascinating characters, it is a triumph of efficient, emphatic cinematic storytelling. In bringing together the personal, the political, and the historic, DuVernay has crafted a film that will be remembered and studied for years to come. The film offers not only a superbly-realized presentation of a particular series of events, but also a sense of what it meant to live through the historical period in question. As director, DuVernay employs a style of storytelling that makes it possible for audiences to find the film engrossing, entertaining, and educational. In a time where dedicated activists are speaking their own truths to leaders who are often even less responsive, movies such as Selma feel more essential than ever. The film's cultural significance is critical and will inevitably permeate all conversations about the film. As a reviewer, I must stress that its cinematic value speaks for itself, even when you swipe away the context of today's struggles. The film serves as a pointed and poignant riposte to our current historical moment. It's an important film about an important story. It deserves to be seen, shared, discussed, and, like the events it depicts, never forgotten. With 13th, director DuVernay has created a stirring, often thrilling, uncannily timely drama that works on several levels at once.
Simon says 13th receives:
Also, see my review for Selma.
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