Chicago Film Festival: Black Cop

Ronnie Rowe Jr. in Black Cop. Photo courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films/Mike Tompkins.

In his feature directorial debut, Black Cop, writer/director Cory Bowles uses unapologetic satire to explore the racial tensions within the police force and communities.  Bowles made this film in response to social media and if not viewed through the right lens, it’s a film that could come off as being absurd.

For one cop, who is only known as Black Cop (Ronnie Rowe Jr.), he gets pushed over the edge and decides to target the white community much in the same way that people of color are targeted.  It’s a case of all-out rage as he abuses, assaults, harasses, and downright terrorizes the white community.

What Bowles is able to do with Black Cop is ask the hard questions by taking the current racial tensions that exist between law enforcement and people of color and respond to it as only a scathing satire would.  It also helps, from a cinematography perspective, that the film was also shot via body camera.  This decision adds to the authentic feeling while viewing the film.

Following its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and a number of screenings at Canadian festivals, Black Cop made its U.S. premiere at the Chicago International Film Festival.  The final screening in Chicago takes place on October 23, 2017.  A release date has not been announced.

 

Danielle Solzman

Danielle Solzman is native of Louisville, KY, and holds a BA in Public Relations from Northern Kentucky University and a MA in Media Communications from Webster University. She roots for her beloved Kentucky Wildcats, St. Louis Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts, and Boston Celtics. Living less than a mile away from Wrigley Field in Chicago, she is an active reader (sports/entertainment/history/biographies/select fiction) and involved with the Chicago improv scene. She also sees many movies and reviews them. She has previously written for Redbird Rants, Wildcat Blue Nation, and Hidden Remote/Flicksided. From April 2016 through May 2017, her film reviews can be found on Creators.

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