Fruitvale Station (2013) is Ryan Coogler’s (director of Black Panther (2018)) first feature length film. This film focuses on the life and murder of Oscar Grant III in 2009.
Coogler rouses empathy by introducing the film with real, un-dramatized footage of the event of Oscar’s murder taken by the pedestrians of Fruitvale Station. This changes the entire interaction between film and viewer. They might have been aware of the premise coming into the picture, knowing that the character Michael B. Jordan plays dies at the end of the movie. With this footage, Coogler forces you to immediately confront the real taking of a human life, establishing authentic raised stakes. This primes us to meet our unwitting main character with open arms, ultimately aware of his fate.
While this film only follows Oscar for a single day, the day leading up to his death, we get an intimate look at his entire history through the portrayal of his daily struggle. The daily routine is a basic but effective way to evaluate the priorities of a character in film. Coogler resuscitates this otherwise mundane model, keeping me completely entranced all throughout. The revival is due to every scene and interaction feeling intentional and meaningful, by introducing another facet of Grant's life and personality. Oscar’s difficult past is inescapable, haunting him wherever he goes. I found this accurate to how people clasp onto their trauma, especially those from a crime ridden lower income area, as they are more likely to face strain early in life. Oscar was once incarcerated, and has since struggled to keep a job at the local grocery store, and keep away from the temptation of selling drugs for financial support.
Thematically, it is a simple instance of the complexity within every human being otherwise unseen and disregarded by strangers. It brings humanity into a man whose life was cut short without reason, one of millions who die young constantly. I found myself really empathizing with Oscar based on his actions, even though I think that certain interactions were inflated. Some things were glaringly untruthful. One of these instances is Oscar watching a dog get hit by a car, to run to it and comfort it in its dying moments, and then leave the dead dog in the street. While he was unobligated to do anything with the dog’s body, it still felt wrong to see a dog treated as roadkill within a movie. My disbelief that was previously suspended rose back to me, upsetting me. As much as I liked Oscar’s character, I thought the more realistic actions of kindness with his daughter, his girlfriend, his friends, and strangers were sufficient. I found this manipulative and annoying.
Coogler defends himself, admitting: “ While Grant never had such an interaction, Coogler’s brother did, and upon hearing the story Coogler saw that it fit in thematically with the story he wanted to tell. “He told me that he was at a gas station and had an interaction with a dog then saw that dog get hit by a car,” Coogler says. “At that moment I thought about Oscar. I thought about all of the black males who die in the street and life goes on.””
I embrace this symbolic meaning, but I still hate to see a dog suffer :(
Overall, a very moving film, and more reasons to love MBJ and Coogler.
Coogler rouses empathy by introducing the film with real, un-dramatized footage of the event of Oscar’s murder taken by the pedestrians of Fruitvale Station. This changes the entire interaction between film and viewer. They might have been aware of the premise coming into the picture, knowing that the character Michael B. Jordan plays dies at the end of the movie. With this footage, Coogler forces you to immediately confront the real taking of a human life, establishing authentic raised stakes. This primes us to meet our unwitting main character with open arms, ultimately aware of his fate.
While this film only follows Oscar for a single day, the day leading up to his death, we get an intimate look at his entire history through the portrayal of his daily struggle. The daily routine is a basic but effective way to evaluate the priorities of a character in film. Coogler resuscitates this otherwise mundane model, keeping me completely entranced all throughout. The revival is due to every scene and interaction feeling intentional and meaningful, by introducing another facet of Grant's life and personality. Oscar’s difficult past is inescapable, haunting him wherever he goes. I found this accurate to how people clasp onto their trauma, especially those from a crime ridden lower income area, as they are more likely to face strain early in life. Oscar was once incarcerated, and has since struggled to keep a job at the local grocery store, and keep away from the temptation of selling drugs for financial support.
Thematically, it is a simple instance of the complexity within every human being otherwise unseen and disregarded by strangers. It brings humanity into a man whose life was cut short without reason, one of millions who die young constantly. I found myself really empathizing with Oscar based on his actions, even though I think that certain interactions were inflated. Some things were glaringly untruthful. One of these instances is Oscar watching a dog get hit by a car, to run to it and comfort it in its dying moments, and then leave the dead dog in the street. While he was unobligated to do anything with the dog’s body, it still felt wrong to see a dog treated as roadkill within a movie. My disbelief that was previously suspended rose back to me, upsetting me. As much as I liked Oscar’s character, I thought the more realistic actions of kindness with his daughter, his girlfriend, his friends, and strangers were sufficient. I found this manipulative and annoying.
Coogler defends himself, admitting: “ While Grant never had such an interaction, Coogler’s brother did, and upon hearing the story Coogler saw that it fit in thematically with the story he wanted to tell. “He told me that he was at a gas station and had an interaction with a dog then saw that dog get hit by a car,” Coogler says. “At that moment I thought about Oscar. I thought about all of the black males who die in the street and life goes on.””
I embrace this symbolic meaning, but I still hate to see a dog suffer :(
Overall, a very moving film, and more reasons to love MBJ and Coogler.
better late than never... right guys...? .... guys??
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