About Baltimore Rising (HBO)

"Baltimore Rising" is a 2017 HBO documentary directed by Sonja Sohn. This film takes a deep and unflinching look at the struggles of Baltimore city after the 2015 death of Freddie Gray in police custody. The movie conveys the tension between the community and the law enforcement, and it focuses on the effort to end the bloodshed and to bring reform in the society.

Making / Production

The production of the documentary is an intricate process and involves a huge team. It took several months to capture the emotions and the turmoil in Baltimore. The direction was carried out under the proficient guidance of Sonja Sohn, who also featured in HBO’s "The Wire" and "The Chi". The production team continued to work even as the city was gripped with riots and protests to capture a real-time narration of the events that unfolded.

Actors

• Dayvon Love as himself - A co-founder of Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle, Love’s leadership in the fight against systemic injustice is documented in the movie.
• Adam Jackson as himself - Another co-founder of Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle, Jackson’s efforts for empowerment in Baltimore are highlighted.
• Genard "Shadow" Barr as himself - An ex-gang member turned activist, his struggle for change is captured excellently.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• Director Sonja Sohn starred in HBO's "The Wire", a series also set in Baltimore city, which increased her familiarity with the city's socio-cultural landscape.
• The film closely followed activists, police officers, as well as community leaders to get a balanced account of events.

Quotes

• "History is watching. And so are our kids." - Makayla Gilliam-Price
• “We gotta stop killing each other so we at least present a unified front.“ - Genard "Shadow" Barr

Music, Soundtrack

• The soundtrack of the movie was composed by the talented musician Jongnic Bontemps, and it helped in setting the tone and emotion of the film.