Is he a Black Cop or a cop who is black? This is the core question for Black Cop, written and directed by Cory Bowles, who you might recognize from Trailer Park Boys.
We see the black cop dealing with black protesters. We see the black cop wearing a hoodie out for a jog being questioned by white cops.
Bowles uses multiple video and audio devices to convey the voices that the cop factors into answering that question. We get video from the POV of the cop's body camera. He listens to talk radio that presents the voices, symbolizing the chatter on social media, according to Bowles. He uses footage from real protests. The soft shoe scenes are symbolic and poignant.
Ronnie Rowe portrays black cop sans name. Rowe captures the conflict within the persona of the black cop about what is right and wrong.
We normally don't like to put spoilers of any kind in our reviews. But you might have heard that the black cop goes after white people in the same manner that some white cops go after black people. Without going into too much detail, the interactions feel spot on from all sides. This is important for all people to see as a commentary on what is going on in the world. Yes, Black Cop is "just a movie" but Bowles has a lot to say and says it well.
In one sense, you could easily be white and dismiss those scenes or avoid the film altogether. If you do watch the film, this is what a lot of black people have to deal with in the real world.
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During the Q&A of the film, one white gentleman observed that the film looked like it could be shot anywhere such as the South or in St. Louis. This film is shot in Halifax and Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Bowles said he shot the film in the areas that he knows in Halifax.
To someone who has been there a couple of times, this definitely looks like Halifax to me.
Bowles' script mentions the North End, the predominantly black area of Halifax. In the conversation after the Q&A, Bowles went into the history of black people in Nova Scotia from runaway slaves all the way up to Africville. Some of the older history was covered in the recent book and miniseries The Book of Negroes.
The story of Viola Desmond, who is slated to appear on the $10 Canadian bill in 2018 is a part of that legacy of the way black people were treated in Nova Scotia in the mid 20th century.
Quite frankly, a look into that world would make a great documentary or feature film.
TIFF 2017 preview
TIFF 2017 Canadian films preview
Black Cop asks more questions than any film can answer. The subject matter is significant and handled in a thoughtful manner. The film will make you think and slightly uncomfortable. You can easily see Black Cop for its social significance, but watch the film for being a well-crafted story you might not know that exists in the real world.
video credit: YouTube/TIFF Trailers
photo credit: Black Cop; me
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