Ava Duvernay's signature style of gut-punch filmmaking puts the viewer in the shoes of Kevin Richardson, Antron McCray, Yusef Salaam, Korey Wise and Raymond Santana, the five young boys who were coerced to make false confessions by the NYPD under duress, skewered by the mainstream press, wrongfully imprisoned, dehumanized and finally vindicated in 2002 after 13 long years. The story of the Central Park Five is infuriating, and though the press, police and prosecutor are specifically blamed, everyone is at fault. Blinded by institutional racism and contempt for poor black and brown kids, the white public (and specifically Elizabeth Lederer and Linda Fairstein) condemns the five kids, deluding itself into believing an obvious fabrication. What is extraordinary about Duvernay's miniseries is that she manages to still display the incredible strength and resilience of the oppressed, not just the boys in prison and their families outside. Further still, she portrays the cruel and punitive criminal justice system at every stage, from the corrupt police, to the baiting press, to the biased courts, to the atrocious prisons, to probation, and the institutional obstacles to life on the outside as a convicted felon. Jharrel Jerome as both kid and young adult Korey is a standout, but the acting is phenomenal from the entire ensemble cast. It's emotional, devastating and absolutely required viewing.
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