Chicago’s South and West sides are known for their overwhelming homicide rates. To stop the crime wave that ravages their neighborhood, two men (one of them, as an act of redemption for having committed a senseless murder when he was young) create outreach programs in their community to educate and heal these young men at high risk for being victims-or perpetrators-of gun-violence. Searching to understand rather than to judge, All These Sons witnesses how these young men go through the difficult process of examining their motives and their fears, often revealing deep traumas that feed this cycle of violence. This documentary follows the participants of the MAAFA and IMAN program as they battle inner demons from their past and, with the help of their mentors, face a brighter future.
Oscar-nominee filmmaker Oscar Bing Liu (Minding the Gap, America to me) and director Joshua Altman engage with the participants of these community groups and share their stories without filter, yet with vulnerability and honesty. A film that explores the causes behind gun violence with sensibility and compassion towards its protagonists.
Credits
Title: All These Sons
Year: 2021
Runtime: 88′
Country: Estats Units
Direction: Joshua Altman, Bing Liu
Cinematography: Joshua Altman, Bing Liu
Genre: Documentary
Subtitles: Marina Cruselles
Contact: Bing Liu
Wins and nominations
2021: Tribeca Film Festival – Best Cinematography Documentary
2021: Denver International Film Festival – Best Documentary
