Hanging with writer/director Ryan Coogler In the early hours of New Year's Day 2009, Oscar Grant, a 22 year old African American, unemployed with a fiance and a young daughter, found himself pinned down on the floor of a BART (Bay Area Rapid Transport) station by several police officiers in the Bay Area of California, close to San Francisco. As shocked onlookers from the train standing at the platform observed (and filmed from their phones), the unthinkable happened. The unarmed Grant was shot in the back by one of the law enforcers which culminated in his death a few hours later in hospital. This very real event is the subject of a very moving and powerful film called 'Fruitvale Station', named after the very place where this notorious incident occurred.
Written and directed by newcomer Ryan Coogler, who himself hails from the very same Bay Area, this film is indeed a strong debut. He said the whole sad event of yet another young African American male being unlawfully killed, especially so close to his own neighbourhood, made him feel compelled to exorcize his own personal feelings through his art of film making. His approach was to look at the very last day of Oscar Grant's life, actually in a very matter-of-fact manner. We, the audience get to experience his day, without any cinematic dramatics, no heavy handed nod as to what was to come. It was all about a normal guy from the hood, trying to take care of business.
Written and directed by newcomer Ryan Coogler, who himself hails from the very same Bay Area, this film is indeed a strong debut. He said the whole sad event of yet another young African American male being unlawfully killed, especially so close to his own neighbourhood, made him feel compelled to exorcize his own personal feelings through his art of film making. His approach was to look at the very last day of Oscar Grant's life, actually in a very matter-of-fact manner. We, the audience get to experience his day, without any cinematic dramatics, no heavy handed nod as to what was to come. It was all about a normal guy from the hood, trying to take care of business.
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