We’re still in documentary territory and once again dealing with a topic that sadly still needs addressing in 2020.
Ultraviolence
Dir. Ken Fero / Dur. 75 mins
Strand:- Debate
In A Nutshell:- There have been, since 1969, over two thousand deaths in UK police custody. This film looks in detail some of those who died between 1995 and 2006.
The Good:- I hesitate to use the term “good” here as much of this film is powerful, affecting stuff in a deeply harrowing way. The film contains actual footage of the deaths of black men in police custody in the UK and it is as upsetting as you would expect. It’s not just about the moment of their deaths, though - the film follows their families and the impact on them as they try and ultimately fail to gain justice from a system which is set up to protect those who are part of it. There has been a lot of coverage of the impact of institutional racism and this film brings specific human faces to that. It’s impossible for anyone with an ounce of empathy not to feel rage and disgust at the abuse and indifference on display which leads to so many unnecessary deaths; a rage and disgust which is compounded by the IPCC and CPS doing their level best to sweep it all under the carpet.
The Bad:- It’s an important film that needs to be seen but there are some stylistic choices that I wasn’t a fan of. The bluntness of the fullscreen titles that show up a lot felt like they detracted from rather than enhanced the message. The animated sequences used to illustrate sections for switch obviously there was no footage felt too weirdly cartoony for such a serious subject. There’s also an attempt to link in state sanctioned war (Vietnam, Iraq) as another consequence of the racism inherent in the systems which are legacy of imperialistic times but it feels like it’s too big a topic to cover so the link just seems tangential and detracts from the focus somewhat.
The Verdict:- It’s framed as a personal essay from a filmmaker to his son and, in that respect, it works very well, covering a highly emotive topic with the right level of emotional investment. It might make the occasional stylistic and thematic misstep but the message is important and one that needs to be seen.
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