Of Interrupters and Frontliners...

I went to see the movie 'The Interrupters' on Tuesday.



Because I was aware of the Ceasefire violence prevention organization from news sources, I had already read that there was a documentary being created based on what their team of 'Interrupters' did.  I was surprised by the amount of buzz the film was starting to create, with showings at the Cannes Film Festival, and 4-star write-ups by well-known movie critics, newspapers and magazines including the Huffington Post, Entertainment Weekly, Roger Ebert, and others.

But upon reflection, with the international attention the death of Derrion Albert, a Chicago Public School student beaten to death, received, violence in urban America, specifically Chicago, has become a new trending topic.

But it is the approach to violence that the Interrupters take, that is enlightening: focusing on violence as an epidemic, one where the spreading contagion needs to be "interrupted" in order to contain the spread of violence.  The lead characters in this film do exactly that: insert themselves into explosive situation in order to diffuse them.  With guns and knives and fists at the ready, this is not an easy position to take.    It is the similar experience that 'The Interrupters' themselves have with the people involved in these situations-- drugs, gangs, violence, abuse, prison-- that allow them to connect, diffuse and ultimately build relationships with people on the brink of explosive violence.

"On the Frontlines" DVD Cover 

With only 16 or so Interrupters for the entire city of Chicago (and currently funding challenged), I thought of the many situations and people that The Interrupters cannot connect with.  It made me think of another, smaller  independent documentary film by local Chicagoan Derek Grace called "On the Frontlines: Taking Back Our Streets".  This film's milieu was the same as The Interrupters: violence, disparity and the obstacles faced in urban Chicago.

The difference lay in the fact that the people profiled in "On the Frontlines" did not have medical degrees and global experiences with epidemics allowing them to relate the dynamic of violence to that of disease; nor did they have hardened lives from gangs, drugs and incarceration, that allows them to relate to young lives on the wrong path.  They simply recognized something needed to be done, and they decided to do something, whether allowing wayward kids into their homes as a "safe haven", or simply discussing the consequences and options to the "fast-life" on the street.

And there were many people after the showing of the film "The Interrupters" that were asking "What can I do?"  Well, to be an Interrupter, having a gang and violence-filled history is a plus on the resume; for most of the patrons, avoiding incarceration and street peril has been paramount, if even a concern, in their lives and professions. But being on the Frontlines doesn't mean you have to talk to ex-offenders with guns ready to "pop a cap".  It means taking some time to see beyond the stereotypes, beyond the anger and frustration, and to see people.  People that want better lives, but haven't had the level of exposure to better influences to help them navigate the treacherous waters they find themselves.

And as always, money is never turned away, and I'm sure the Interrupters and the Ceasefire organization, and the producers of the "On The Frontlines" can direct any donation toward a much needed ends.  But, in addition, I would say take, take some time to realize that these are these people profiled on these documentaries, and the families shown on your evening news are living, breathing human beings who are being held hostage by drugs, ignorance and fear.

The producer of "On the Frontlines", Derek Grace, is working on some supplemental educational materials to help children to identify and combat anger, bullying and violence.  He is attempting to get the film and the educational materials shown in the Chicago Public Schools.  I would suggest that this is where the most good can be done: prevention.  The Interruptors help to prevent further retaliation and violence, and turn many lives around; but those lives are already impaired because of prison records and past gang and drug affiliations.  I am in no way advocating giving up on any one, but in the words of Frederick Douglas, "It is easier to raise a healthy child, than to repair a broken man".  It is up to you to turn the next phase of Chicago into a thriving multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment global city, by focusing not only on preventing violence from spreading, but has every Chicagoan working to eradicate it at the root.

Please support both films: "The Interrupters" filmis playing exclusively in Chicago at the Gene Siskel Film Center; filmmakers and Interrupters will speak after some screenings of the film, which runs through Aug. 25 at the Gene Siskel Film Center. Check here for details and showtimes:  http://bit.ly/mZK9o9   "On the Frontlines: Taking Back Our Streets" film is now on DVD, and can be obtained through the website: http://www.onthefrontlinemovie.com/purchase.html  and support CPS acquiring the film and educational materials by calling 312-371-4722 or emailing graceprd@aol.com