The current situation facing Black folks in the US seems grim, to say the least. With headlines about wrongful deaths involving young Black people and cops, rampant racism in light of the current political climate, and poverty facing many of the inner cities, there’s just so much happening in the community that it can seem overwhelming even for those not personally surviving the daily struggles. And in the new film “What You Gonna Do When The World’s On Fire?” the situations facing people in the African American communities of Louisiana and Mississippi are highlighted, putting faces to these massive injustices.
In honor of the documentary arriving in theaters later this summer, we’re proud to present an exclusive clip to our readers, showcasing one of the stories that is shown in ‘What You Gonna Do.’ In the clip, you see that there’s a “New Black Panther Party” that has risen up in light of recent events involving police shootings. One of the people lays out the entire reason for the group to exist in today’s world and his words are so powerful, it brings others to tears.
“What You Gonna Do When The World’s On Fire?” is directed by Roberto Minervini. The filmmaker is probably best known for his recent docs “The Other Side” and “Stop the Pounding Heart.” The film made the festival rounds last year, becoming an official selection at the Venice Film Festival, TIFF, the New York Film Festival, and BFI London Film Festival, among others.
The director said he hopes the film “can facilitate a much-needed discussion on race and the current plight of African Americans who, now more than ever, are witnessing the intensification of hate crimes and discriminatory policies.”
“What You Gonna Do When The World’s On Fire?” arrives August 16 at Film at Lincoln Center in New York City, with a full nationwide release following.
Here’s the film’s synopsis:
Summer 2017, a string of brutal police killings of young African American men has sent shockwaves throughout the country. A Black community in the American South tries to cope with the lingering effects of the past and navigate their place in a country that is not on their side. Meanwhile, the Black Panthers prepare a large-scale protest against police brutality. A blistering meditation on the state of race in America.
