Watch Between the World and Me

Between the World and Me is a 2020 film directed by Kamilah Forbes and based on the award-winning book by Ta-Nehisi Coates. The film is a powerful and emotional exploration of what it means to be black in America today. The movie is a mix of documentary footage and staged readings of Coates' book, which is a letter to his teenage son about racism and violence in the United States.

The film features a star-studded cast of actors, including Mahershala Ali, Angela Bassett, and Ta-Nehisi Coates himself. The performances are captivating, and the actors' delivery of Coates' words is emotive and impactful. The movie is divided into three segments, each dealing with different themes related to race and identity in the United States.

The first segment is titled "Lost in the Dream." This part of the movie focuses on Coates' childhood growing up in Baltimore during the crack epidemic of the 1980s. Coates' father, Paul, was a Black Panther and instilled in his son a keen awareness of racism and injustice in America. Paul's death inspired Coates to write Between the World and Me. The opening segment aims to show the chaos of the world that Paul lived in, and the sense of fear and uncertainty that permeated Coates' childhood.

The second segment is called "The Mecca." This section is about Coates' experience as a student at Howard University, the most prominent historically black college in the United States. In this segment, Coates explores the idea of the "Mecca," a term that refers to Howard University as a place of transformation and empowerment for young black people. The Mecca is portrayed as a place where black students can learn and grow without the constant threat of racism that exists in the wider world.

The final segment is titled "War." The section deals with the current state of race relations in the United States and focuses on the deaths of black people at the hands of the police. Coates explores ideas around the concept of justification for police brutality, highlighting the way that black individuals are often seen as dangerous and criminal. The War section is about Coates' desire to fight against this idea, to stand up to racism and to fight for a better world for himself and his son.

Between the World and Me is a moving and thought-provoking film that speaks to the heart of the Black Lives Matter movement. The movie artfully highlights the way that racism pervades every aspect of American society and the need for change. Between the World and Me is unapologetically political, with the closing scene featuring a list of black people who have been killed by the police. The use of these names makes the film a call to action, urging viewers to confront the realities of racism in the United States and to work for change.

Overall, Between the World and Me is a remarkable film that perfectly captures the spirit of Ta-Nehisi Coates' book. The movie is a powerful reminder of the struggles and injustices that black people face every day in the United States. Despite the heaviness of the material, the film is also a celebration of blackness and a call to action for a better tomorrow. The performances are exceptional and the storytelling is powerful, making Between the World and Me a must-see for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of race in America.

Between the World and Me is a 2020 documentary. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4.