Emanuel — Review
This review was originally published on Cinemusings on June 19, 2019.
Source: Fathom Events
On the evening of June 17, 2015, a 21-year-old white supremacist walked into the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina and killed nine people. Brian Ivie’s documentary Emanuel recounts the story and gives the survivors and relatives of the victims a platform to share their experiences. Ivie pulls together journalists and political figures for interviews but gives special attention to the people affected by the tragedy on a more personal level. The film tackles its sensitive subject matter in a profoundly respectable fashion.
Mass shootings have unfortunately become so commonplace that Emanuel isn’t the only documentary of its kind. But Emanuel stands out by going beyond simply retelling the details of the crime. It’s a simultaneously devastating and uplifting film about the extreme sides of human nature.
Witnessing how Dylann Roof felt zero remorse for his actions is enough to make viewers lose faith in humanity. But seeing how the survivors and the victims’ loved ones are able to forgive a man who committed such a heinous crime is enough to restore that faith. These are people who responded to the ultimate form of hate with the most courageous form of love and it’s absolutely awe-inspiring.
Daniel Stewart’s cinematography is beautiful and intimate. It feels like a truly humanist film, focusing on images of the people rather than gratuitous depictions of violence. The editing is slow and deliberate, allowing each moment of the film time to sink in. Ivie really gives viewers space to think and reflect on what each interviewee has to say without allowing the film to feel slow-paced. Emanuel makes full use of its runtime, never feeling dragged out and never overstaying its welcome.
Source: Fathom Events
Ivie’s film explores the different types of extreme reactions that people can have to this type of tragedy: outrage and forgiveness. It doesn’t shame people for lashing out in anger. Justifying that type of behavior, one person declares, “I’ve seen other cities explode under the weight of a single murder. Now we have nine dead bodies in a church. There is going to be a response.” But the film is more focused on forgiveness. The fact that these survivors and relatives of the victims could forgive such a heartless criminal is one of the most inspirational and admirable things to ever be captured on camera.
Emanuel is a deeply moving film about a horrible day in human history. It was released on the 4th anniversary of the crime, with encore screenings on June 19th. It’s a shame it didn’t receive a wider release because this documentary should be deemed essential viewing. Emanuel provides a vital look at the current state of the country. The film tackles significant topics such as racism and gun violence without ever coming across as preachy or trying to push a political agenda. Emanuel is quite possibly the most important documentary of the year and provides a hopeful lesson about the power of forgiveness and the ability to fight hate with love.
