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Deep Dive: St. Louis Superman (2019)

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St. Louis Superman
St. Louis Superman is a short documentary film focused on Bruce Franks Jr., an activist and former politician from St. Louis. The film covers Franks' activism that arose from the unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, after the shooting of Michael Brown in 2014. It details his election to the Missouri House of Representatives in 2016 and his efforts within state government. The documentary also addresses Franks' unresolved childhood trauma, particularly the impact of witnessing his brother's death in a shooting when he was nine years old. Directed by Sami Khan and Smriti Mundhra, the film includes a coda added after its premiere at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival, which elaborates on Franks' mental health struggles. It was released by MTV Documentary Films and aired on multiple platforms in May 2020.

Why Watch

  • •Meet activist Bruce Franks Jr. and his story.
  • •See the impact of Ferguson's unrest on a community.
  • •Find out about Franks' struggles with childhood trauma.

Did You Know

•Bruce Franks Jr. was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 2016.
•The film won the jury Prize for Best Documentary Short at the 2019 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival.
•St. Louis Superman was nominated for Best Documentary (Short Subject) at the 92nd Academy Awards.
•The film was broadcast on MTV, VH1, and MTV2 on May 18, 2020.

Perfect For

Social justice activismPolitical documentariesMental health awareness