Night Catches Us

About Night Catches Us

Night Catches Us is a drama film released in 2010. Set in 1976 Philadelphia, the story revolves around a former Black Panther, Marcus, who returns to his old neighborhood where his past still haunts him. He reunites with his old lover Patricia, who is now a lawyer and single mother, but their relationship is strained due to the unresolved issues of their past, including the death of Patricia's husband, a fellow Black Panther. The struggles and the backlash faced by Marcus opens up a discussion about the lingering effects of the Black Panther movement, racism, and police prejudice.

Making / Production

The film was directed by Tanya Hamilton and produced by Sean Costello, Jason Orans, and Ronald Simons, with a screenplay written by Hamilton. Night Catches Us was shot in Philadelphia and showcases the vibrancy and struggles of the city during that time period.

Actors

• Anthony Mackie as Marcus: He portrayed a former Black Panther with a regretful past. Mackie excellently captures the internalized torment of his character.
• Kerry Washington as Patricia: Playing a lawyer and single mother, Washington gives a powerful performance, showing the strength and determination of her character.
• Jamie Hector as DoRight Miller: He exemplified the anger and hostility of a neighborhood riddled with challenges from the past and present era.
• Wendell Pierce as David Gordon: A cop determined to bring peace in the neighborhood, Wendell's portrayal of an empathetic officer was critically acclaimed.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film marked Tanya Hamilton's directorial debut in feature films.
• Night Catches Us premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2010.

Quotes

• "Running don't help nothing." - Marcus
• "You can't just come back here and pretend." - Patricia

Music, Soundtrack

• The soundtrack was composed by The Roots, the Grammy-award-winning band, adding a powerful layer to the film's depiction of 1970s Philadelphia.