Movie Review; American Skin

American Skin...

American Skin is a 2019 American drama film written and directed by Nate Parker. It stars Parker, Omari Hardwick, Theo Rossi, Shane Paul McGhie, Milauna Jackson and Beau Knapp.

Now I watched this movie early last month and I regretted not knowing about it sooner. i actually got to know about it from tiktok and i made It my duty to look for the full movie and watch it.

Now the movie is great and educational, the cast is great, directing, producing,editing etc all were quite spot on(for me. you might have. different opinion).

I will try to make this review as quick and understandable as possible so as not to bore you.

The movie started with a African American efather being pulled over with his teenage son by the police(who happen to d white...not quite shocked). Now this man was a former Marine but because he knew how people of his color were treated, he put himself in a position to show that he posed no danger: He put both hands on his steering wheel but that was after he had brought out all the necessary documents and laid it out for the officer. Permit me to stop here and just throw this question out there...what is so threatening about the black skin? why are they always been targeted? like are they wearing a bullseye on their backs that only the white can see?.. The whole thing disgusts me but ill go back to the movie.. Now the officers move closer to the car, starts man handling the man (Lincoln Jefferson) while his son(kajiani) brings out his phone to record the whole and It was during this altercation that kijani is shot and killed by one officer...why??..the offer said kajian's phone was a gun and he felt unsafe... a grown man kills a child because he 'felt' unsafe... 

Next we see that a year later, a documentary film crew, requests an interview with Jefferson at the same time as the Grand Jury's decision on the guilt or innocence of Officer Randall(the man who shot kijani) is due to be televised. Officer Randall is cleared of all wrongdoing and it is announced there will not be a trial(now I have watched enough and read not to not be shocked at this) it was at this moment that violence eruptted in the city. A police captain who also happens to be an African American with the Kajani's grieving mother asking her to make a public statement calling for calm. Where was he when a child was killed and the killer was set free?

After watching Kijani's mother Tayana make a statement on television, Jefferson who has clearly had enough decides to take matters into his own hands.  Jefferson and his veteran friends easily subdue the police station and take everyone inside hostage. Jefferson demands the trial his son Kajani that was earlier denied and a mock is staged. Lincoln got some prisoners and workers of the police station to act as the jury. I can't blame the poor man. He left being a soldier, got a job as a janitor and all for what? to watch his son get shot and die right in front of him. This fake trial leads to a lot of argument and discussion regarding racial relations and tensions. despite the different people there,Lincoln allows everyone the right to speak freely during the trial.

Officer Randall finally admits that he pulled Jefferson and Kajani over because they were in fact black. He then admits to shooting Kajani because he was scared for his life. what exactly did he imagine was gotten to happen? a child would pull a gun and shoot him while his father was already being rough handled? smh.

A moment of peace between Randall and Jefferson takes place, before Lincoln is shot by a sniper while leaving the police station. The movie ends with various talking heads speculating on the motives for the invasion.(not of them was even remotely close to the truth)

I will hand it to Nate Parker. he delivered a strong message with this piece and it is a movie worth Downloading, watching,keeping and sharing..

Thank you for reading and I will see you next week 😊❤