Parents' Guide to

Eyes on the Prize: Hallowed Ground

By Alistair Lawrence, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Civil rights follow-up documentary has violence, trauma.

Movie NR 2021 60 minutes
Eyes on the Prize: Hallowed Ground poster

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What's the Story?

EYES ON THE PRIZE: HALLOWED GROUND brings together a diverse collection of civil rights and social justice activists to discuss their work and goals. The documentary looks back on the powerful Eyes on the Prize documentary series, which began in 1987, and asks questions about how far we've come.

Is It Any Good?

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Kids say: Not yet rated

This companion piece to Henry Hampton's highly significant documentary series from 1987 gives itself an unenviable task. For although Eyes on the Prize: Hallowed Ground recognizes its impact, it's not afraid to criticize an epic series that helped a generation better understand the civil rights movement. Director and co-writer Sophia Nahli Allison does so with various visual flourishes -- abstract performance pieces intersperse gritty documentary footage. Through new interviews, Allison also enables broader voices to discuss their struggles. In particular, voices from the trans and queer communities are placed on an equal footing to more familiar names and faces.

With a runtime of just 60 minutes, Eyes on the Prize: Hallowed Ground cannot go into the same level of detail as the original series' 14-hour duration. However, it works as both a primer and a companion piece to a timeless body of work. It also maintains a sense of positivity under grueling circumstances, setting an example for all of us in the process.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Eyes on the Prize: Hallowed Ground compared to the original documentary series. Have you seen it? If not, did watching this make you want to? Why are the issues discussed so important?

  • How familiar are you with the civil rights movement? What did you learn from this documentary? How to talk with kids about racism and racial violence.

  • Throughout the documentary perseverance, courage, and integrity are all shown by some. What do these character strengths mean to you? When have you shown these traits in your own life?

  • Talk about the modern examples of social activism and resistance that the documentary discusses. Did it help you understand more about campaigns such as MeToo, Black Lives Matter, and Defund the Police?

  • Discuss the documentary's mix of interviews, and archive and performance footage. Why do you think the filmmakers decided on this format? What parts were most memorable to you?

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