Traffic Stop

About Traffic Stop

"Traffic Stop" is a powerful short documentary film released in 2018, directed by Kate Davis. It tells the real-life story of Breaion King, a 26-year-old African-American school teacher from Austin, Texas, who was stopped for a routine traffic violation that escalated into a dramatic arrest. The movie dives deep into racism, law enforcement, and the human dignity that can persist even after dehumanizing experiences.

Making / Production

The film was directed by Kate Davis and bankrolled by David Heilbroner. The unique narrative of the story was shaped with footage taken from a police dash-cam which was combined with poignant interviews and scenes from King's life, creating an intimate portrait of resilience in the face of systemic racism.

Actors

• Breaion King: Breaion plays herself, portraying her life and the harrowing incident with the police with grace and determination.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film is derived from a 2015 incident that was recorded by a police dashcam.
• "Traffic Stop" is Kate Davis's second nomination for an Academy Award, the first being for "Southern Comfort" in 2001.
• The entire ordeal that King faced lasted 15 minutes but had a lasting impact on her life.

Awards

"Traffic Stop" was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject) in 2018.

Quotes

• "I'm not a bad person. Slow down, I'm not a monster." - Breaion King
• "It's all about power. I was powerless." - Breaion King
• "They wanted me to feel insignificant. But I'm not." - Breaion King

Music, Soundtrack

• The emotional tone of the film is wonderfully nuanced by imaginative use of sound, pulling from the observational and verite footage, rather than relying on an original score or soundtrack.