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On These Grounds

Play trailer 2:05 Poster for On These Grounds 2021 1h 48m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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88% Tomatometer 8 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
An explosive video goes viral, showing a white school resource officer in South Carolina pull a Black teenager from her school desk and throw her across the floor. An outraged nation divides over who is at fault and what role race played in the incident. Healer-Activist Vivian Anderson uproots her life in NYC and moves to South Carolina to help the girl and dismantle the system behind the "Assault at Spring Valley," including facing the police officer. To contextualize this incident, geographer Janae Davis treks the surrounding swamps to unearth the overgrown and neglected homes of formerly enslaved people of African descent, drawing a throughline connecting trauma from the past to present. Against the backdrop of a racial reckoning and its deep historical roots, one incident illuminates a persistent American power structure. Much like the nation at large, the arresting officer and the girl thrown from the desk have starkly different perspectives of what happened. Through intimate verite footage and extensive interviews with both, a hidden truth is unearthed about what actually happened that day. Throughout the film, select scholars, historians, and experts provide further context to the story, as well as an examination of race, school discipline, and police accountability.
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On These Grounds

Critics Reviews

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Inkoo Kang The Hollywood Reporter 03/23/2021
Well intentioned but messy... its impact undermined by its hazy focus. Go to Full Review Jordan Elizabeth Common Sense Media 09/28/2021
3/5
While On These Grounds isn't easy viewing, it shows how both laws and individuals enact violence on Black children and provides examples of resilience, perseverance, and resistance in the face of injustice. Go to Full Review Kip Mooney College Movie Review 08/10/2021
B+
One of the most well-rounded and vital documentaries in recent years. Go to Full Review Jennie Kermode Eye for Film 03/26/2021
4.5/5
It's an intriguing look at how opinions can form within cultural bubbles which completely defy a rational analysis of widely available evidence. Go to Full Review Peter Sobczynski eFilmCritic.com 03/25/2021
This engrossing documentary from Garrett Zeygetis examines the entire case in granular detail utilizing interviews with all the key players. Go to Full Review Joel Fisher Battle Royale With Cheese 03/23/2021
Spring Valley shows that even in a post-Trump era, America still has a long way to go to reverse the damage caused by institutional racism. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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dave d @RT34924333 01/01/2022 Sometimes unfocused, but necessary and fair portrait of the disconnect of Police Officers in schools and the disproportionate punishment based on race and gender. When the film is zoomed in on the disconnect of school resource officers and students, particularly those of color, it's best. When it drifts away from that lane it feels like a totally different film. Informative and thoughtful and a must to increase your worldview! Final Score: 8/10 See more 12/20/2021 This documentary is a MUST-see! Especially for school administrators and School Officers. They need to see how what they do has consequences. See more Read all reviews
On These Grounds

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Cast & Crew

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Garrett Zevgetis

Director

Vivian Anderson

Self

Janae Davis

Self

Chico Colvard

Producer

Jeff Consiglio

Producer

Ariana Garfinkel

Producer

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On These Grounds

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On These Grounds

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Movie Info

Synopsis An explosive video goes viral, showing a white school resource officer in South Carolina pull a Black teenager from her school desk and throw her across the floor. An outraged nation divides over who is at fault and what role race played in the incident. Healer-Activist Vivian Anderson uproots her life in NYC and moves to South Carolina to help the girl and dismantle the system behind the "Assault at Spring Valley," including facing the police officer. To contextualize this incident, geographer Janae Davis treks the surrounding swamps to unearth the overgrown and neglected homes of formerly enslaved people of African descent, drawing a throughline connecting trauma from the past to present. Against the backdrop of a racial reckoning and its deep historical roots, one incident illuminates a persistent American power structure. Much like the nation at large, the arresting officer and the girl thrown from the desk have starkly different perspectives of what happened. Through intimate verite footage and extensive interviews with both, a hidden truth is unearthed about what actually happened that day. Throughout the film, select scholars, historians, and experts provide further context to the story, as well as an examination of race, school discipline, and police accountability.
Director
Garrett Zevgetis
Producer
Chico Colvard, Jeff Consiglio, Ariana Garfinkel
Distributor
Gravitas Ventures
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 24, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 24, 2021
Runtime
1h 48m
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