13TH

About 13TH

Explore

• Plot Summary
• Making / Production
• Actors
• Trivia / Interesting Facts
• Awards
• Quotes
• Music, Soundtrack

Plot Summary

13TH is a 2016 documentary film directed by Ava DuVernay. The title refers to the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which abolished slavery but allowed for the imprisonment of Black people as a means to maintain racial control. The film explores the history of racial inequality in the United States through the lens of the criminal justice system.

The documentary features interviews with various scholars, activists, and politicians, as well as archival footage, to examine how the criminalization and mass incarceration of Black people have served as a form of modern-day slavery.

Making / Production

13TH was directed and produced by Ava DuVernay, who is known for her work as a filmmaker and advocate for racial equality. The film was produced in collaboration with Netflix and was released globally on the streaming platform in October 2016.

Actors

• Ava DuVernay - Director
• Bryan Stevenson - Activist and lawyer
• Van Jones - Political commentator and activist
• Michelle Alexander - Civil rights lawyer and author
• Cory Booker - U.S. Senator
• Newt Gingrich - Former Speaker of the House

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• 13TH received critical acclaim and was nominated for several awards.
• The film gained widespread attention for its powerful exploration of racial injustice and systemic racism in the United States.
• Ava DuVernay became the first Black woman to direct a documentary feature nominated for an Academy Award.

Awards

13TH was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 89th Academy Awards. Although it didn't win the award, its nomination was groundbreaking for recognizing the importance of the film's subject matter and its impact on society.

Quotes

• "The United States is home to 5% of the world's population, but 25% of the world's prisoners." - 13TH
• "This system of dehumanization serves us all because when you criminalize a population, you're allowed to do anything to them." - 13TH
• "We went from slavery to the criminalization of blackness." - 13TH

Music, Soundtrack

The documentary 13TH features a powerful and thought-provoking original score composed by Jason Moran. The music complements the themes and emotions presented in the film, adding depth and resonance to the storytelling.