Film Lens
Stranger Fruit is a 2017 documentary directed by Jason Pollock that focuses on the shooting of Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri in 2014. The film presents previously unpublished surveillance footage that Pollock claims was withheld from the public and jury members, which he argues was intended to damage Brown's reputation. The footage shows Brown visiting Ferguson Market shortly before the police encounter, where he allegedly traded a small bag of drugs for cigarillos.
The documentary captures the civil unrest in Ferguson following the failed indictment of former officer Darren Wilson. Pollock spent two years filming the events and reactions in the community. The film's release sparked protests, with many believing that the withheld footage was part of a police cover-up. The narrative is further complicated by conflicting interpretations of the surveillance footage, particularly regarding the nature of Brown's interaction with the store clerks.
Why Watch
- •See unreleased footage of Michael Brown's last hours.
- •Find out about the protests sparked by the film's claims.
- •Meet the filmmaker who spent two years documenting Ferguson.
Did You Know
•Stranger Fruit premiered on March 11, 2017, at the South by Southwest festival.
•Jason Pollock spent two years filming the events in Ferguson after Brown's death.
•The film includes footage of Michael Brown at Ferguson Market about 12 hours before his death.
•The St. Louis County prosecuting office released unedited footage on March 13, 2017.
Perfect For
Police accountabilityCivil rights movementsFerguson unrest