40 Years a Prisoner

About 40 Years a Prisoner

'40 Years a Prisoner' (2020) is a compelling American documentary film that follows the controversial 1978 police siege of MOVE, a radical black liberation group in the Powelton Village neighborhood of Philadelphia. This dramatic event led to the fatal shooting of Philadelphia police officer, James Ramp. The film, through its meticulous documentation, showcases the agonizing odyssey of Mike Africa Jr., the son of two members of MOVE, who were incarcerated due to their alleged involvement in the death of Officer Ramp. His lifelong mission is to exonerate his parents. The film is directed by Tommy Oliver.

Making / Production

The production involved copious amounts of research to delineate the truth of the MOVE events that transpired in 1978. Executive producers of the film include Common, Derek Dudley, Shelby Stone, John Legend, Mike Jackson, and Ty Stiklorius, in partnership with the Freedom Road Productions and the Confluential Films.

Actors

• Mike Africa Jr.: Playing as himself, Africa Jr. embarks on a quest to discover the real story behind the events that saw his parents imprisoned.
• David Morse: Featured as himself, Morse tells his personal experiences and observations regarding the MOVE event.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 12, 2020.
• This documentary inspects an important event in the history of racial tension and law enforcement in the U.S.

Awards

As of now, the film has not won any known awards.

Quotes

• "Freedom is not given. Freedom is taken" - Mike Africa Jr.
• "This is not just a story. This is my family." - Mike Africa Jr.

Music, Soundtrack

• The music for the film was composed by Gerald Trottman and Jongnic Bontemps, contributing to the intense and riveting atmosphere of the movie.