Fruitvale station is the debut feature from oakland filmmaker ryan coogler, and its a quietly powerful achievement of surprising beauty and subtlety. Jul 12, 20 early in the morning on new years day 2009, 22yearold black drug dealer oscar grant was shot in the back and killed by a white cop in oaklands fruitvale station as dozens of witnesses. 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 system in oakland. Prologue fruitvale bart station, oakland, alameda county, ca 2. Fruitvale station is based on the story of oscar grant iii. Fatal shooting at fruitvale station hits home for films. Fruitvale station 3401 east 12th street, oakland, ca 94601. The movie i choose to analyze was fruitvale station. Jul 15, 20 fruitvale station won the dramatic grand jury prize and dramatic audience awards at robert redfords annual celebration of indie filmmaking in january. 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. Bay area rapid transit police were called to oaklands fruitvale station on. Iii was fatally shot by a bart police officer on the fruitvale bart station in san francisco. Jul 11, 20 fatal shooting at fruitvale station hits home for films stars the new film tells the story of oscar grant, an unarmed young black man who was fatally shot by an oakland, calif. Oscar grant, an unarmed man, was shot dead by bart police.
The fruitvale station shooting by fergus mason goodreads. 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. In their book, these scholars argue that because poor african americans are. But this is not a phenomenon unique to fruitvale station. Fruitvale station is based on the story of oscar grant. May 21, 2014 a california transit authority has agreed to pay damages to five men who were detained with oscar grant, the victim of a highprofile fatal police shooting in 2009. Katie and joes jaws drop at the sound of the shooting. These decisions allow the films writer and director, ryan coogler, to portray grant as an imperfect young man who has done bad things but is. Fruitvale bart station, where grant was shot and killed. Oscar grant vigil at fruitvale station marks bart shooting. In the weeks and months following the shooting of trayvon martin, the eagerness with.
As art, its unfortunate that fruitvale station begins with the cell phone footage of grants shooting at the titular bart station, creating a frame which makes everything up to that night an extended prologue. Jul 12, 2017 fruitvale station reenacts the days leading up to the reallife new years day 2009 shooting of oscar grant, an unarmed 22yearold, by a bart police officer in oakland, calif. Grant, 22, a father of a fouryearold daughter, was reportedly shot in the back after police responded to reports of a fight at the fruitvale station. Fruitvale station makes it clear that oscar grant is a product of this unfair justice system. The film won both jury and audience awards at the 20 sundance film festival. Fruitvale station depicts the final 24 hours in the life of oscar grant. May 09, 20 the fruitvale station shooting paperback may 9 20 by fergus mason author 4. Jul 25, 20 harvey weinsteins big oscar hopeful this summer is fruitvale station, a true story about the fatal oakland shooting of an unarmed young black man that arrived with almost miraculous timing. The frameworks i chose to conduct this analysis with were bodies out of place, antioppression framework, and the equality concept. Filmmaker ryan coogler makes his feature directorial debut with this drama centered on the tragic shooting of oscar grant michael b. Redemption story turns to tragedy in fruitvale station. The shooting incident was the subject of the 20 movie fruitvale station, which starred michael b.
Fruitvale station is a quiet, unassuming story about the shooting of one ordinary man. Today, its a vibrant neighborhood and one of oaklands main commercial areas. On his way home from a celebration at the embarcadero in san francisco, everything changed. Despite some criticism about the accuracy of the films. An image from a video of the 2009 bart police shooting of oscar grant at fruitvale station in oakland shows the scene just moments before. 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 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. Those consequences form the main concern of fruitvale station, a drama based on the events leading up to and following the tragic shooting death of oscar grant in the early hours of new years.
The film fruitvale station depicts events in oscar grants life, including the confrontation with bart police officers that led to his shooting death on that fateful new years eve. Mar 01, 2014 fruitvale station is a story weve heard too many times. Compelling character study captures the life behind the tragic death powerful film reminds us that every victim of a random shooting was, first and foremost, a. Reportedly, coogler thoroughly researched the days events, up to and including the crucial incident. Perhaps its because of this introduction that every moment of the film has an ominous feeling, with grant in constant motion. May 21, 2014 the shooting and the last day of grants life were depicted in the movie, fruitvale station. Jordan, a vibrant 22yearold bay area father who was senselessly gunned down by bart officers on new years day in 2009, and whose murder sent shockwaves through the nation after being captured on camera by his fellow passengers. Johannes mehserle unintentionally shot and killed oscar grant. The fruitvale station tragedy essay example topics and. In the films only flashback scene, we learn that grant was incarcerated in 2008 for drug dealing. Fruitvale station trial ends as bart settles with oscar grant. He said, i didnt want any real footage in the film. 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 tells the story of oscar grant iii world. Fruitvale station and 3 related entities entities finder. Passionate and powerfully acted, fruitvale station serves as a celebration of life, a condemnation of death, and a triumph for star michael b. The film shows grant and his girlfriend sophina arguing about grants recent infidelity. The fruitvale station shooting by fergus mason alibris. The fruitvale station shooting by fergus mason, paperback.
The film includes actual amateur footage of the shooting, which coogler was initially against using. Fruitvale station is a story weve heard too many times. The shooting happened at pointblank range, while grant was unarmed, handcuffed and lying facedown. Fruitvale station is a 20 american biographical drama film written and directed by ryan coogler. Fruitvale station trial ends as bart settles with oscar. San francisco bay is a lively area with a busy social life, but usually its pretty goodnatured. The paper the fruitvale station tragedy is an excellent example of an essay on film studies. In the weeks and months following the shooting of trayvon martin, the eagerness with which the prozimmerman faction of the populace and. Jun 08, 2014 with regards to fruitvale station, the facts are that an unarmed africanamerican was shot by a police officer. Jury delivers involuntary manslaughter verdict in oakland.
A scene recreating the fatal shooting of oscar grant by bart police for the film fruitvale station. 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. Aug 16, 20 opening broadly on the very day that george zimmerman was exonerated for the shooting of trayvon martin, fruitvale station is one of those films. In context, though, it is part of a significant historical story. 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. Oscar grant was celebrating like most of the world. Written in the statement, rewind format the book tells the story of the incident in the very. Early in the morning on new years day 2009, 22yearold black drug dealer oscar grant was shot in the back and killed by a white cop in oaklands fruitvale station as dozens of witnesses.
Fruitvale station reenacts the days leading up to the reallife new years day 2009 shooting of oscar grant, an unarmed 22yearold, by a bart police officer in oakland, calif. Protest and riots soon followed and it became oaklands equivalent of rodney king. Fruitvale station 20 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. The shooting is shown at a distance, as it might have been seen from the bart train that was in the station at the time, making the details invisible. As oscar crosses paths with friends, family, and strangers, we see that there is much more to him than meets the eye. He was on duty as a train officer for bart transportation and was on alert for those who had celebrated new years eve. Fruitvale station is a touching, timely plea against racial. Making fruitvale station was a labor of love for 27yearold black director ryan coogler, a product of the university of southern californias school of cinematic arts who had previously only made. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The fruitvale station shooting kindle edition by mason, fergus. It is also familiar to the moviegoers who viewed the movie about the incident, fruitvale station. But it is his final encounter of the day with police officers at the fruitvale bart station that will shake the bay area to its very core, causing the entire nation to. Writerdirector ryan cooglers debut feature, fruitvale station, is one of those first films that announces that a major talent has hit the scene. The trayvon martin shooting produced a similarly binary response.
Its a humanistic, deeply observed portrait of a 22yearold africanamerican named oscar grant michael b. Fruitvale station is loose with the facts about oscar grant. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the fruitvale station shooting. On january 7, 2009, protests over the shooting and administration of justice began peacefully about 3. Fruitvale station, though a drama, takes place in a more real world, one in which a 22yearold like oscar can be both loving and angry, can be both a doting father and a desperate drug dealer. Feb, 2018 shooting on 16mm and integrating documentary footage into the editing, coogler gives fruitvale station a feeling of realism thats further consolidated by jordans amazing performance. Jul 12, 20 but this is not a phenomenon unique to fruitvale station. In fruitvale station, the shooting takes place on new years eve in 2008.
The shooting was captured on a bystanders cellphone video camera. Jul 28, 20 this is the central message of fruitvale station, a film dramatizing the reallife case of the young unarmed black man shot in the back by a white police officer in 2009. Jordan, a name that might be familiar to some from headlines a few years ago. Jul 31, 20 fruitvale station tells the story of oscar grant iii by christine schofelt 31 july 20 many viewers walk into a showing of ryan cooglers first featurelength film, fruitvale station, already. Buy the fruitvale station shooting by fergus mason online at alibris. This attention is well deserved, not only because the movie portrays a similar incidentthe killing by a transit police office of an. 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.
Fruitvale station palisades hudson financial group. In the early evening, some of the protesters marched toward oaklands central business district and downtown. Oscar was unarmed and pinned on the ground by two officers, one of whom shot him in the back. Fruitvale station is a powerful film that demands to be. The movie provides more detail about the individuals affected by this incident, including especially oscar grant, albeit perhaps through occasional dramatic license. A small group of people protested outside bart headquarters in oakland monday to demand answers into the police shooting of. Kindle store go search buy again your store deals store gift cards sell help. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Tatiana takes the bait the oldest trick in the book. Jan 16, 2014 fruitvale station makes it clear that oscar grant is a product of this unfair justice system.
Originally called fruit vale, the neighborhood around fruitvale bart station was mostly apricot and cherry orchards in the late 1800s. Buy the fruitvale station shooting by fergus mason isbn. In the wake of george zimmermans acquittal for the shooting of trayvon martin, the movie fruitvale station has received a great deal of attention. The fruitvale station tragedy essay example topics and well. An image from a video of the 2009 bart police shooting of oscar grant at fruitvale station in oakland shows the scene just moments before former officer johannes mehserle shot grant.
Court releases dramatic video of bart shooting youtube. Fruitvale station runs risks with reallife story sfgate. What creed and fruitvale station tell us about black. A california transit authority has agreed to pay damages to five men who were detained with oscar grant, the victim of a highprofile fatal police shooting in 2009. The shooting and the last day of grants life were depicted in the movie, fruitvale station.
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