Watch Stranger Fruit

Stranger Fruit is a documentary film that delves into the events surrounding the death of Michael Brown Jr., an 18-year-old black man, who was shot and killed by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, in August 2014. The film is directed by Jason Pollock, who spent two years investigating the case, and features interviews with Michael Brown Jr.'s family and friends, eyewitnesses, and key figures involved in the case.

The film's title refers to the name of a type of fruit believed to have been found in Michael Brown Jr.'s hand by the police after the shooting. The presence of the fruit was used as evidence by the police and their supporters to suggest that Brown had robbed a convenience store prior to the incident and was therefore a threat to officer safety. This theory was later disproven by a video released by Pollock which showed that Brown had traded a small amount of marijuana for the cigars he was accused of stealing.

The film seeks to challenge the mainstream narrative around Brown's death, which has been widely portrayed in the media as a justified use of force by the police. Through interviews with witnesses and experts, the film presents an alternative theory of the events leading up to Brown's death, which suggests that he was not a threat to the officer at the time he was shot.

The film also explores the aftermath of Brown's death, including the protests that erupted in Ferguson and across the country, as well as the subsequent investigations by the Department of Justice and other agencies. The film provides a platform for Michael Brown Sr. and Maxine Brown, Michael Brown Jr.'s parents, to share their perspective on the case and to express their ongoing struggle for justice.

Throughout the film, Pollock uses a combination of archival footage, interviews, and reenactments to provide a comprehensive account of the case. He also includes footage that was not previously released to the public, including video from the convenience store where Brown allegedly stole the cigars.

The film has been praised for its compelling storytelling and its ability to challenge dominant assumptions about the case. It has also generated controversy, with some critics accusing Pollock of manipulating the evidence to support his own version of events.

Overall, Stranger Fruit is a powerful and thought-provoking documentary that raises important questions about police violence and systemic racism in America. By humanizing Michael Brown Jr. and his family, the film challenges viewers to confront the complex social and political issues at the heart of this case.

Stranger Fruit is a 2018 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 48 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.6.