Skip to main content

Deep Dive: Emanuel (2019)

Play Trailer

Film Lens

Emanuel
Emanuel is a documentary directed by Brian Tetsuro Ivie that examines the Charleston church shooting where nine members of the Emanuel AME Church were killed by Dylann Roof. The film features interviews with survivors and family members, focusing on the aftermath of the shooting and the community's response, particularly the act of forgiveness offered by the victims' families in court. It also addresses the historical context of race relations in Charleston and the significance of the Emanuel AME Church within the community. The film premiered at the 2018 Bentonville Film Festival, winning the Jury Prize for Best Documentary. It was released theatrically on June 17, 2019, coinciding with the four-year anniversary of the shooting. The documentary's themes include justice, faith, peace, and forgiveness, and it aims to educate viewers on racial injustice, with profits donated to the victims' families and survivors.

Why Watch

  • •See the powerful forgiveness from victims' families in court.
  • •Meet survivors and hear their personal stories.
  • •Find out about the history of Emanuel AME Church.

Did You Know

•Nine African Americans were killed in the Charleston church shooting.
•The film won the Jury Prize for Best Documentary at the 2018 Bentonville Film Festival.
•Emanuel was released in theaters on June 17, 2019, exactly four years after the shooting.
•The documentary made its television debut on Starz in January 2020.

Perfect For

Racial justice educationCommunity healingDocumentary enthusiasts