With national headlines regarding the recent trayvon martin case still fresh in the publics minds, fruitvale station certainly brings with it a sense of urgency. Coogler, who had made two wellregarded short films at u. It is cooglers first feature film and is based on the events leading to the death of oscar grant, a young man who was killed in 2009 by bart police officer johannes mehserle at the fruitvale district station of the bay area rapid transit bart system in oakland. Aug 05, 20 fruitvale station is a dramatization of the final 24 hours in the life of oscar grant, an unarmed 22yearold oakland man who was shot in the back and killed by a transit cop on the morning of january 1, 2009. One of the most disputed moments in fruitvale station 20 is the scene wherein grant comforts a dying dog at a gas station. Ive been paying tribute to fruitvale station since i first saw this emotional powerhouse at sundance in january. Rent fruitvale station 20 on dvd and bluray dvd netflix. But the knockout punch comes not just from the payoff but from a dramatically adroit buildup, a strong sense of social milieu, and the emotional range of lead actor michael b. Fruitvale station takes the measure of a life the boston. Use of mazes a powerful jungian symbol in the film works on multiple levels representing the film s puzzling structure, but also the audiences unconscious.
Fruitvale station presents a fictionalized version of the last day in the life of oscar grant iii, a 22yearold african american from the san francisco bay area. Analysis of the movie fruitvale station 1231 words. Jan 16, 2014 fruitvale station makes it clear that oscar grant is a product of this unfair justice system. Jul 15, 20 fruitvale station dramatizes the last day in the life of oscar grant, a real person who was infamously shot and killed by a transit police officer. Film fruitvale station your threepage close textual analysis should discuss how the film exploits this element of film form by using detailed, concrete references to specific scenes and shots in the film. The film fruitvale station is a story about a young man, trying to create a new future for himself and his family. Winner of both the grand jury prize for dramatic feature and the audience award for u. The story is really about oscars attempt to reconcile with his girlfriend and family and put his life back together after a jail stint. Nevertheless, i think you should stop at this station to witness the impact that this movie throws at you. Fruitvale station, based on the true story of a bay area black man shot by a white police officer on a subway platform, examines the subject with a steady, objective eye. When danny traverses through overlooks mazelike corridors, the cameras firstperson pov immerses us into the action as well. Analysis of fruitvale station the film fruitvale station is a story about a young man, trying to create a new future for himself and his family.
Apr 22, 2015 the film was made in 20 by ryan coogler and follows a day in the life of oscar grant. Ryan cooglers fruitvale station is a bold act of imagination and compassion, reconstructing the final 24 hours in the life of oscar grant, a young black man who, in the early hours of new years day 2009, was shot dead by a police officer on a train station platform in oakland, california. The film has been seen by some as winding audiences up with its shocking tale of a young fathers senseless death. Fruitvale station was released at a sensitive time. Your threepage close textual analysis should discuss how the film exploits this element of film form by using detailed, concrete references to specific scenes and shots in the film. Fruitvale station 20 rotten tomatoes movie trailers.
Fruitvale station delivers a powerful, potent message. The movie told the story of oscar grant and follows his life up until the moment he was legally murdered. Many critics have described that scene as emotionally manipulative and claimed that, for all its talk of realism, fruitvale is hagiography and not biography. This attention is well deserved, not only because the movie portrays a similar incidentthe killing by a transit police office of an unarmed 22yearold, oscar grant iii, early on new.
This guide is useful for exploring topics including politics, pshe education, and citizenship, and highlighting themes surrounding democracy, crime. Fruitvale station is a moving drama depicting a very tough environment in the us. Fruitvale station is based on the story of oscar grant iii. The drama for the 20 movie caused protest all around the united states because of racism.
The movie i choose to analyze was fruitvale station. The true story film written and directed by ryan coogler is one of the most controversial films of all time. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Fruitvale station, the quietly assured yet gutpunching debut feature of 27yearold usc film school graduate and oakland native ryan coogler.
The movie begins with the actual footage of oscar grant and his friends being detained by the bart police at the fruitvale bart station in oakland on january 1, 2009, at 2. Fruitvale station dramatizes the last day in the life of oscar grant, a real person who was infamously shot and killed by a transit police officer. Oscar was unarmed and pinned on the ground by two officers, one of whom shot him in the back. In the early morning hours of new years day 2009, as a result of failing to cooperate with the police when placed under.
With the trayvon martin verdict only a month behind us, the film raises similar questions in our society. Defying stereotypes, brilliant fruitvale station brings. Fruitvale station is a 20 american biographical drama film written and directed by ryan coogler. Name the movie title is fruitvale station venue viewed dvd movie social issue fruitvale station is a story of a young man with a past legal history getting in his way as he struggles to find his identity. You should cite your sources and format your document according to. Jordan, right, at the bart fruitvale station in oakland hours before attending the films premiere on june 20, 20. Fruitvale station was filmed in real locations, and surprisingly, often in the actual places where the real events unfolded, including the bart station and the morgue, for example. It is cooglers feature directorial debut and is based on the events leading to the death of oscar grant, a young man who was killed in 2009 by bart police officer johannes mehserle at the fruitvale district station of the bay area rapid transit bart system in oakland. Fruitvale station is best when it does what it needs to do as a narrative, as a work of art, and as an entity thats complimentary to the truth, not substituting itself for the truth.
Jun 30, 20 his film of that story, fruitvale station, opens next month. Jul 26, 20 fruitvale station is one of those small independent films that found a connection with audiences and critics alike ever since it was released early last year in the sundance film festival winning both the audience award and the grand jury prize. The fruitvale station this essay instance the document the fruitvale station tragedy is an excellent example of an essay on picture studies. Oscar grant iii is a young black man living in the oakland area trying to make ends meet. Showing us oscar as a complex person with whom we can sympathize, ryan cooglers movie is an ambitious dogooder project aimed at penetrating hardened hearts. This movie can foster critical thinking, but it can also draw the viewer in to experience the raw emotions and suspenseful moments of this real life story. Here you will find unforgettable moments, scenes and lines from all your favorite films. He works at a grocery store, but due to being late and losing his temper, he loses his job. Aug 12, 20 paul joseph gulino explores fruitvale station film structure, comparing it to blake snyder and christopher voglers beat sheets.
Fruitvale station makes it clear that oscar grant is a product of this unfair justice system. The frameworks i chose to conduct this analysis with were bodies out of place, antioppression framework, and the equality concept. The fruitvale station tragedy essay example topics and well. The film, shot in a journalistic, handheld style in super 16 format, won both the.
Film study worksheet for a work of historical fiction and. While trying to change his life he encounters unjust treatment at. In that way, their popularity is understandable, and for someone new to the craft, they have tremendous appeal as a shortcut to learning. Oscar is killed in a scuffle by a white cop who later received a relatively lenient sentence. Film production company i choose to analyze was fruitvale station.
Jordan, a 22yearold bay area resident who wakes up on the morning of december 31, 2008 and feels something in the air. I think itd be wrong to assume ryan coogler put a lot of thought into the traditional structure of fruitvale station defining hard act breaks, inciting incident, etc. Sooner or later, all human beings must confront the elephant in the room. The true story of oscar, a 22yearold bay area resident, who crosses paths with friends, enemies, family, and strangers on the last day of 2008. In the wake of george zimmermans acquittal for the shooting of trayvon martin, the movie fruitvale station has received a great deal of attention. Jul 25, 20 coming just two weeks after the trayvon martin verdict, fridays release of the film fruitvale station couldnt have been timed more appropriately.
Jul 12, 20 fruitvale station, based on the true story of a bay area black man shot by a white police officer on a subway platform, examines the subject with a steady, objective eye. Fruitvale station follows the true story of oscar grant michael b. Fruitvale station, is a story about the real life oscar grant, a black man who was shot and killed by. Fruitvale station mostly follows a linear narrative structure but the first moving image shot the audience are introduced to is the actual reallife footage of oscar grant being shot by a bart officer in which the films portrayal of this is shown at the end which is a nonlinear approach. Fruitvale station is not the feelgood movie of the year. A film guide that looks at fruitvale station 20, a powerful drama based on a shocking real life story that provoked debate and protest in america. A film like this doesnt normally see wide distribution during the blockbuster summer months, but it couldnt be more timely. Analysis of the movie fruitvale station 1147 words 5 pages.
Best writing original screenplay stephen follows film. Fruitvale station sparks a crucial conversation about race. Ryan cooglers awardwinning debut feature aptly dramatizes the 2009 killing of the unarmed oscar grant in oakland by a transit cop early on new years day. Fruitvale station echoes themes in recent national headlines. This was his first feature, and in terms of writing, he was obviously still figuring things out.
Fruitvale station jenna shirley university of new england fruitvale station is a movie that has the capability to bring many emotions to the surface. Ryan kyle coogler is an american film director and screenwriter. Oscars apartment bedrooom night 2 we open on an expensive looking flip cellphone sitting on a dresser. Fruitvale and blood brother winners at sundance awards 20. Fruitvale station philip conklin fruitvale station depicts the last 24 hours in the life of oscar grant iii, a 22yearold black man from oakland, california who was shot and killed by police early in the morning of january 1, 2009. His first feature film, fruitvale station, won the grand jury prize and the audience award for u. Fruitvale station director ryan coogler, left, and actor michael b. Domestic interiors include the homes of cooglers aunt and grandmother. Analysis of the movie fruitvale station 1147 words. The shooting was one of the first that was captured by cell phone video footage and garnered much outrage across the city and nation. There comes a time when we can no longer look away from that which stands before us. The film is based on the true story of oscar grant, 22yearold bay area resident, who crosses paths with friends, enemies, family, and strangers on the last day of 2008. In the film s only flashback scene, we learn that grant was incarcerated in 2008 for drug dealing. When autoplay is enabled, a suggested video will automatically play next.
But it was also a film that didnt need a traditional structure. One thing fruitvale station does is provide a respite from the tiresome and endless american myth of the noble dead the same one that only ever talked about the cops, firefighters and family men and woman who died in the world trade centre, not the unscrupulous stock traders and probably the odd pimp or murderer. Grant was murdered by a police officer on a fruitvale station bart stop on new years day in 2009. The film was made in 20 by ryan coogler and follows a day in the life of oscar grant. Nov 16, 2014 name the movie title is fruitvale station venue viewed dvd movie social issue fruitvale station is a story of a young man with a past legal history getting in his way as he struggles to find his identity. Im not sure, but i still found it an interesting and emotional movie, for some. The film does not make oscar grant out to be a hero. Fruitvale station is based on the story of oscar grant. Fruitvale station depicts the last 24 hours in the life of oscar grant iii, a 22yearold black man from oakland, california who was shot and killed by police early in the morning of january 1, 2009. Fruitvale station details the final 24 hours of oscar grants michael b jordan life, a victim of police brutality and manslaughter on new years day 2009. The film also touches on other subjects like racial differences and a corruptive police force. Fruitvale station is the story of an american tragedy.
The fruitvale station this essay instance vea canal tv. Typically the frameworks i chose to run this evaluation with were being bodies outside of place, antioppression framework, and then. The guardian film show 22 jump street, fruitvale station, when i saw you and pulp. The structure of fruitvale station becomes apparent when you dont look at it as the story of oscar grants death but take it more as a tragic dayinthelife story. Its this thought that struck me the most during fruitvale station, the powerful, tragically true story of oscar grant, an unarmed man who was shot and killed by police officers while on a train. Your paper must include a bibliography of the sources that you cite. The movieclips channel is the largest collection of licensed movie clips on the web. Aug 12, 20 its just one of the many ways in which this brilliant film excels. Sep 21, 2015 fruitvale station mostly follows a linear narrative structure but the first moving image shot the audience are introduced to is the actual reallife footage of oscar grant being shot by a bart officer in which the films portrayal of this is shown at the end which is a nonlinear approach.
Is the dog scene in fruitvale station emotionally exploitative. Fruitvale station is indeed a sad film, and an important one, in the parts that matter. The fruitvale station tragedy essay example topics and. This causality is the basic organizing structure of most movie narratives. A bay area killing inspires fruitvale station the new. Introducing oscar grant, the man behind the headlines npr. Jul 11, 20 music, film, tv and political news coverage.