Detroit
Kathryn Bigelow (2017)I listened to a radio program the other day that was telling the story of a young black man who had recently been harassed by the police while sitting in his parked car, ultimatelly leading to the ruin of his life. It is heartening to see how much progress has been made since the Detroit riots fifty years ago.
Detroit is one of those movies that lead the foreign viewer to ask himself « What the CINECAST! is wrong with America? ». It lays bare the moral rot at the heart of racial relations in the country in its myriad forms, from outright racism to the feelings of inadequacy of white men who feel themselves robbed of what they are entitled to. There are a couple of moments of subtlety but the movie itself is more a straightforward punch in the face than anything else, and no perfume hides the rot.
If the movie can generally be described as a thriller, there are sequences where it veers into horror movie territory. As the abuse most of it takes place in escalates, the intensity and threat of the situation inexorably increase until (further) tragedy becomes unavoidable and it is only a matter of time before the powder keg explodes. Bigelow is relentless as she builds the tension up and knows how to keep it there. In its altercations with the police,
Detroit manages to convey what it means to be a black American better than
Get Out, the terror and sheer unfairness of it all.
To be fair, the script is not so facile that it portrays all cops or all white people as bigots and bullies, and all the black characters as innocent victims. There are infuriating scenes at the beginning that depict black men setting fire to their own neighbourhoods, looting the stores of their community or otherwise making a mess of things. Ultimately though, this is a film about the institutional prejudice of the law enforcement and judicial institutions and the manner in which abuse happens and spirals.
It is by no means a perfect movie ; its flaws are many. It is a powerful one however, and in spite of its plot problems and weak character building, it sheds a rare light into that which is darkest.
6.5/10where the hell do you stay when Singapore gets such a film before other countries?
Does it? I never had to wait much time for a movie to be released as I remember.
I should get mother! in the following week, I think. This week was the occasion to watch other things (see above).