Watch What You Gonna Do When the Worlds on Fire?

What You Gonna Do When the World's on Fire? is a 2018 documentary film directed by Roberto Minervini. The film explores the lives of black communities in New Orleans and Jackson County, Mississippi, in the aftermath of the 2016 election and the Baton Rouge shootings. The documentary captures the everyday struggles and joys of the black community in the face of racism, police brutality, poverty, and migration.

The film opens with shots of New Orleans streets, where Judy Hill and her son, Ronald, live. Judy, a bartender and community activist, is trying to keep her son away from the streets and gangs. Ronald has a talent for playing the trumpet and hopes to make a living from it someday. We also meet the Zenobia family, a group of siblings who run their own business in the French Quarter.

In Jackson County, Mississippi, we meet the two Hill sisters, Dorothy and Michael. The sisters run a youth program and organize rallies in response to the Alton Sterling shooting. The Hill sisters also have a family farm where they teach black youth about agriculture.

The film shows the communities responding to the election of Donald Trump with fear and uncertainty. They fear that the new administration will roll back the civil rights gains achieved under President Obama. They also fear that they will lose their jobs, homes, and healthcare. The film shows the vibrant protests and marches that took place in the aftermath of the election.

The film also highlights the issue of police brutality and racism. We see the community members sharing their stories of harassment and abuse at the hands of the police. Judy takes us on a tour of the graves of black people killed by the police in New Orleans. She talks about the need to remind people of the history of violence against black people in America.

The film also shows the resilience and creativity of the black community. We see them organizing their own events, making their own music, and celebrating their culture. The Zenobia family hosts a crawfish boil, and Michael and Dorothy organize a talent show for the youth in Jackson County.

The film's cinematography is stunning. The film is shot in black and white, which gives it a timeless quality. The camera lingers on the faces of the community members, capturing their expressions and emotions. The film uses long takes and slow motion to give the audience time to absorb the images and sounds of the community.

The film's soundtrack is also impressive. The film features music by black musicians, including blues, jazz, and hip-hop. The music serves as a soundtrack to the community's struggles and hopes.

What You Gonna Do When the World's on Fire? is a powerful and moving documentary that gives a voice to the black communities in New Orleans and Jackson County. The film shows the everyday lives of the community members and the challenges they face. The film also celebrates their resilience, creativity, and sense of community. The film is a testament to the power of documentary filmmaking to give a voice to marginalized communities and shed light on their struggles.

What You Gonna Do When the Worlds on Fire? is a 2019 documentary with a runtime of 2 hours and 3 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.8 and a MetaScore of 68.