The Interrupters

As the tragic gun violence afflicting Chicago continues to make news, Hoop Dreams (1994) director Steve James’ extraordinary portrait of the people working literally door-to-door and block by block to end it remains as urgent as ever.  At its center are three “Violence Interrupters” working for the innovative intervention program CeaseFire.  As they endeavor to overcome their own violent pasts, they use their hard won credibility to convince others they can do the same.  Heartbreaking and, at times, harrowing, The Interrupters is essential nonfiction filmmaking.

DCP, color, 125 min.  DIR: Steve James.