"Residue": Movie Review
Written By Alex Greenbaum
While its intentions are confused and its filmmaking constrained by a small budget, "Residue" lingers with the greatest of aspirations. With an execution that becomes more flawed as its storyline progresses, we are fortunately left with something to chew on, even if its message doesn't ever become crystal clear. Gentrification, race, and inner-city crime blend together into a subject matter that too often distracts from its powerful thematic elements, meant for deeper thought.
Returning to his old haunts in DC, a troubled filmmaker (Obinna Nwachukwu) observes the changing roots of his past neighborhood, while reconnecting with friends and family.
First-time director/writer Merawi Gerima pours his heart out into each of his realistic characters and true to life setting. Aside from a few captivating scenes, however, "Residue" never builds up enough to warrant its strange ending or odd directorial style. With a bigger budget and clearer message, Germia would have most likely succeeded at a greater rate than he has here.
Littered with flaws, "Residue" gets lost in the shuffle, amongst many other of its obvious problems. Frustration starts to eventually become frequent, but it's documentary type filming and an abundance of strong messages about our racial divide further strengthen its passionate spirit.
Comments
Post a Comment