Spanning twenty years in the lives of a Washington DC family, and evoking virtually every emotion along the way, ‘17 Blocks’ alternately rides waves of despair and anger with an occasional ray real hope that somehow, someday, this family who lives 17 blocks from the United States Capitol building will be rescued from what seems like a cruelly pre-determined fate.
Director Davy Rothbart met 9 year old Emmanuel and his older brother, 15 year old Smurf, on a basketball court in 1999. The quick version is that the filmmaker started out loaning his camera to Emmanuel, who recorded his daily life, his hopes and dreams. 20 years and 1,000 hours of videotape later, Rothbart and editor Jennifer Tiexiera have assembled an unflinching narrative.
Emmanuel’s mother, Cheryl, once harbored grandiose plans of becoming an actress, and she grew up with both parents and went to a private school – it seemed she was on the verge of something positive at one time. Alas, we see early on that she is now a drug addict. Smurf gets into drug dealing, the middle sister, Denise, becomes an unmarried teenage mother – it just seems like the same situation being passed from generation to generation.
And yet, we come to feel empathy and even affection for this family. There is something so honest about the way they have presented their unfiltered lives. And, yes, there are small triumphs that are celebrated as well.
But a tragedy occurs that changes the family dynamics in ways that are both unforeseen and yet somehow inevitable. Part of life on these streets is early death. It’s that cold, hard truth that haunts and infuriates the viewer.
Powerful, provocative and moving, ‘17 Blocks’ will stay with you long after its conclusion.
Opens February 19th. Click: How to Watch
