This was a very well-done autobiographical doc of how a young black man made decisions to rob a bank with 2 friends. He had since served his prison sentence, and joined NYU film school, and this is, I believe, his first serious film. The documentary is exceptionally well-filmed and subtle, and well-crafted throughout, using both interviews with his real-life friends and family (talking to him, the interviewer), as well as using actors to reenact scenes. The only flaw was that the documentary seemed about 20 minutes too long, and it did not really address the Elephant in the Room: if Darius felt culpable, as this film shows, but his family obviously did not feel he was (as the interviews proved), then where's the reconciliation there?
In fact, the interviews with the mother, father and other family members seemed to reveal a characteristic of this family, and perhaps, many families like them: when Darius came home with the $140 grand, his mother and father did not scold him and drag him to the police, or even try to give back the money to the bank (no harm, no foul), but spent the money, and shielded their son. This, while understandable at the very first, eventually sends a terrible message, and perhaps indicative of what is wrong with many families in black communities. They should have marched their son to the police station, giving back the money, to minimize the penalty (since it came as no big surprise to anyone but Darius that they were all caught anyway). In fact, I was watching closely to see if anyone at all blamed themselves and took responsibility for their actions. The only 2 people who seemed to acknowledge that taking what's not theirs was wrong were Darius and one of his female cousins. The rest were just upset that Darius got into trouble and was caught.
The fact that the family of 5 was struggling, even though the parents were working 2-3 jobs, was compelling. But it made me also wonder what sort of people have 2, 3 kids and yet assume they will have enough money to take care of them, without the requisite incomes? Apparently, this family did. But Darius did not mention going hungry, or going to humiliating food bank lines or anything. The only thing that seemed to tip this family (or Darius at least) over the edge was a burglary. Also, the parents bringing their children into their money squabbles certainly had a negative effect on young Darius. So although I felt the larger sociological issue of poverty in working black families should be addressed, and appreciated that, I was also pretty repelled by Darius's parents' response and actions after the loot was stolen, as if the money was theirs to spend. These seemingly nice parents obviously had poor morals that were transmitted to their son, since they in fact merely spent the money that wasn't theirs (excusing it as "just paying bills", including a $1000 phone bill for a friend). I wondered whether many black families feel this way--that the system is just rigged, so all they need is a trigger or snap (such as a burglary) to turn the entire family into criminals and accomplices. The mother confessed that she never even thought of turning her son in at all. That speaks volumes. It's her son, yes, but when family is more important than morality and law, then how are they morally different than all the rich white families whom people claim oppress others for their benefit? After all, "family comes first". If 1 in 3 black males are incarcerated, you cannot have this mentality in the black community; each child must be reared thinking that it is absolutely unacceptable to commit crime, under any circumstance. But this film shows that this family at least, certainly did not feel that way at all. Anyway, the documentary made me think about the culture of entitlement and victimhood, which seemed clear as day in this doc.
That being said, I was especially impressed by Darius's documentary, which was penetrating and sensitive, as seems the subject. I wish him the best; he seems to have a real intelligence for film-making.
1 out of 3 found this helpful.
Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
