Not since "The Thin Blue Line" by Errol Morris have I seen a documentary as insightful and devastating as "Say Her Name: The Life and Death of Sandra Bland." Interviews of family, friends, and law enforcement present a Rashomon range of opinions. Video from the arresting officer's body cam and dash cam document his meltdown in the face of a strong, calm woman.
Though we know the conclusion of this tragedy, it doesn't detract interest from the family's search to disclose the probable cause of Ms. Bland's death. Recollections of her bright personality and community engagement make us feel her absence more keenly.
Directors Kate Davis and David Hellbroner masterfully present details in a clear, logical manner. Conflicting information is laid out for the viewer to consider, though the injustice is obvious. The documentary displays another simple traffic stop resulting in the death of an unarmed Black person in police custody, told unflinchingly.