Two weeks after a nation wept in the wake of George Zimmerman’s acquittal in the murder of Trayvon Martin, the outrage continues. Thanks to Fruitvale Station, mainstream moviegoers will see that the shooting death of an unarmed black youth is not a new phenomenon – nor is it unique to a ‘Stand Your Ground’ state.
In his cinematic debut, filmmaker Ryan Coogler illustrates the last days of Oscar Grant III – the young man who was fatally shot by transit police officer Johannes Mehserle in Oakland, California in the early morning hours of New Year’s Day 2009.
Responding to reports of a fight on a crowded Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) train returning from San Francisco, BART police officers detained Grant and several other passengers on the platform at the Fruitvale Station.
Mehserle and another officer were restraining Grant, who was lying face down and allegedly resisting arrest. Mehserle drew his gun and shot Grant once in the back.
He died from his injuries hours later.
The events, captured on multiple digital video and cell phone cameras, instantly went viral. The following days saw both peaceful and violent protests.
Fruitvale Station begins where it ended for Grant – with the actual videotape of the tragic and senseless ordeal. Then Coogler introduces the audience to the human being behind the tragedy.
Before his death became an example of excessive force and injustice, Grant was “Osc” – a 22-year-old man attempting to grow up and move beyond his past mistakes by becoming a responsible parent. He doesn’t want to worry his mother – or break his little girl’s heart – by repeating the worst parts of his personal history.
Is he perfect? Absolutely not – but Fruitvale Station eloquently shows him being robbed of the opportunity to turn his life completely around.
Coogler uses accounts from family and friends to paint a picture of a young man who is struggling through the growing pains of accepting adult responsibilities and making decisions that will honor his family. On the night of his death, he’s among a group of friends just trying to have a good time.
Even though the audience knows the end from the very beginning, Fruitvale Station will have viewers wishing for the opportunity to erase the moment in time that would define his destiny.
Much of the intimate connection that occurs between the audience and the film is due to young actor Michael B. Jordan. He absorbs the spirit of Grant as the star of Fruitvale Station and further reminds viewers of Coogler’s obvious intention behind the film – that “Osc” could be anyone’s brother, boyfriend, cousin, homeboy, son or grandson.
The young actor masters the role – from the vernacular to the overall energy of the battle between good and evil faced by young black men on a daily basis. Jordan carries the film with the ease of a veteran – which is especially evident when he’s acting alongside Academy Award winner Octavia Spencer, who plays Oscar’s mother.
For 28-year-old Coogler, Fruitvale Station echoes the potential of Spike Lee and John Singleton with respect to capturing the voice of his generation via cinema.
Had Grant lived, he and Coogler would be about the same age – a point that also lends itself to the film’s “stolen potential” theme.
As America comes to grips with Zimmerman walking away a free man after killing Trayvon Martin, Fruitvale Station dramatizes an achingly familiar parallel.
“Fruitvale station” opens in theatres nationwide on Friday, July 26. The film is Rated R with a running time of 90 minutes.
