The only feature so far from writer-director Tanya Hamilton, this beautifully made, powerful film at times turns to conventional narrative tropes, but only because the moral predicaments it gropes with are so crushingly complex.
Set in 1976, as the pro-business establishment was reestablishing hegemony over both American political parties more trenchantly than they had since the Depression, this is a portrait of a post-revolutionary society in which the revolution, sadly, was defeated. The characters, former Black Panther militants, grapple with the aftermath of decisions made under impossibly wrenching circumstances.
Perhaps the film's ultimate theme is one of forgiveness, but not towards the established order that did and continues to torment oppressed nations. Rather, it promotes forgiveness towards the former comrades in arms that had to hurt one another just to strive to do good in a situation that could only have very bad results.
Set in 1976, as the pro-business establishment was reestablishing hegemony over both American political parties more trenchantly than they had since the Depression, this is a portrait of a post-revolutionary society in which the revolution, sadly, was defeated. The characters, former Black Panther militants, grapple with the aftermath of decisions made under impossibly wrenching circumstances.
Perhaps the film's ultimate theme is one of forgiveness, but not towards the established order that did and continues to torment oppressed nations. Rather, it promotes forgiveness towards the former comrades in arms that had to hurt one another just to strive to do good in a situation that could only have very bad results.