American Trial: the Eric Garner Story is a 2019 unscripted narrative film directed by Roee Messinger. The film shows the trial that could have happened following the killing of Eric Garner at the hands of the police in the infamous police brutality case that took place in Staten Island, New York on July 17, 2014.[1] Daniel Pantaleo, the policeman that held Eric Garner in what proved to be a lethal chokehold was never prosecuted for any crime.
The film shows the trial that could have followed Garner's death if the New York City Grand Jury had decided to prosecute the police officer. Messinger used the real witnesses who would have testified had the case been tried, including an eye witness, forensic pathologists and police use of force experts as well as real criminal attorneys.
The film premiered at the 2019 New York Film Festival[2] to rave reviews and was later distributed by Passion River Films during the COVID-19 pandemic.
References
- Messinger, Roee (11 October 2019). "New Eric Garner Film Imagines NYPD Officer's Trial (Q&A)". Hollywood Reporter (Interview).
- Messinger, Roee (21 May 2020). "The Audience as a Virtual Jury: Roee Messinger on Tonight's Screening of American Trial: The Eric Garner Story". Filmmaker Magazine (Interview).
- Defore, John (May 18, 2020). "'American Trial: The Eric Garner Story': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
- Choudhury, Bedatri D. (October 11, 2019). "A Movie Envisions the Trial that Eric Garner Never Had". Hyperallergic. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
- Newcott, Bill (June 4, 2020). "Review: American Trial: The Eric Garner Story — Movies for the Rest of Us with Bill Newcott". The Saturday Evening Post. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
- Sandoval, Lapacazo (May 21, 2020). "American Trial: The Eric Garner Story". Los Angeles Sentinel. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
- "AMERICAN TRIAL: THE ERIC GARNER STORY -- An Innovative But Dangerous Hybrid Documentary". disappointment media. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
- "Eric Garner's widow finds healing in fictional documentary six years after his death". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
- Moore, Roger (2020-05-18). "Movie Review — "American Trial: The Eric Garner Story"". Movie Nation. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
- Snipes-Garner, Esaw; Garner, Emerald. "Eric Garner's widow and daughter discuss film 'American Trial'". TODAY.com (Interview). Retrieved 2024-03-19.
- Ferguson, David (2020-05-21). "'American Trial: The Eric Garner Story' Review". International Policy Digest. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
- Fafner, Hans Henrik (2020-06-12). "Breaking the blue wall of silence". MODERN TIMES REVIEW. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
- Rampell, Ed (2020-05-18). "What if They Were Held Accountable?". Progressive.org. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
- Harris, Shani (2019-11-13). "Eric Garner's Family Pushes for Anti-Chokehold Bill After Screening of American Trial: The Eric Garner Story". The Root. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
- Anderman, Nirit (June 2, 2020). "New Documentary Offers Delayed Justice for Eric Garner". Haaretz. Retrieved March 19, 2024.