After multiple police shootings of unarmed black Americans, Ferguson: Lives Matter travels to the hometown of Mike Brown, one of the unarmed black Americans whose killer is on the run and has voluntarily left the Ferguson Police Department. We watched the film with the guidance of a Missouri resident who is recognized as a student and musician, as he spoke about what he believed to be the root of downtown’s problems and offered advice on what solutions he and those around him saw fit or At least a proper assessment perspective provides insight into the problem.
We get a glimpse of the Ferguson protests not only as a movement for solutions, but as an opportunity for those who choose to harm the community through looting and property destruction. A small percentage of this property destruction is directed at the police or any external elements that are seen as harming the people of the community, but rather at local entrepreneurs who only serve the community economy.
The fact that we’re getting more than opinions and some figurative B-roll means this probably won’t be the definitive documentary about Ferguson’s racial climate, Mike Brown, or Ferguson’s underserved minority population; all topics covered. Instead of hard facts or statistical charts of any kind, what we see is the opinion of religious figures, local business owners, and even some friends of our young leaders.
The movie gets to the point where we’re taken to the wizard’s studio; it’s not strictly necessary for us to understand what the movie is about. And yet, it starts and keeps a conversation going about injustices bigger than just one place and one person.
