LA 92
By Jeffrey Anderson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Graphic, real-life violence in powerful Rodney King story.
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LA 92
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What's the Story?
LA 92 -- which is told entirely through vintage news and home video footage -- centers on the story of Rodney King, a Black man who was brutally beaten by four white LAPD officers in March 1991. The act was captured on video, the four officers were arrested, and the Black community hoped for justice. Meanwhile, also in March 1991, Black L.A. teen Latasha Harlins was shot and killed by a Korean convenience store owner. It, too, was captured on video, but a white judge let the shooter off with no jail time. Tensions were high leading up to April 1992, when the King trial ended with the jury acquitting all four officers, despite the overwhelming video evidence. Justifiably frustrated and enraged, the Black community took to the streets in protest.
Is It Any Good?
The images in this documentary -- which consists entirely of archival footage -- are powerful and heartbreaking. And while there's no denying their impact, contemporary commentary or historical context would have been an invaluable addition. Produced by National Geographic for the 25th anniversary of the King verdict and ensuing riots, and boldly assembled from of hundreds of hours of footage by Oscar-winning filmmakers Daniel Lindsay and T. J. Martin, LA 92 certainly adds up to a potent experience. The emotion-filled images largely speak for themselves. Perhaps none is more powerful than the single tear shed by a Black man as he watches the four police officers going free.
The music score by Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans helps underline the images' intensity and helps drive the narrative flow. A prologue and epilogue tying the Watts riots of 1965 to the events of 1992 offer a pessimistic view that not much changed in 30 years -- and offer a foreshadowing of equally tragic events to come, such as the 2020 murder of George Floyd. If LA 92 had broadened its viewpoint a bit, offering a modern, sobering perspective like Ezra Edelman's brilliant O.J.: Made in America, it might have been even more apparent how long and how far back the systemic problems on display here have been in play.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in LA 92. How does it feel to watch these events knowing they really happened, rather than violence created for a fictional story?
What, if anything, changed between the 1965 Watts riots and the tragic events that took place in 1992? What has changed between 1992 and the demonstrations following George Floyd's murder in 2020?
What did -- and didn't -- shock you while watching this film?
Why is it important to learn -- and talk -- about race and racism? How can media help with that process?
Movie Details
- In theaters: April 28, 2017
- On DVD or streaming: June 27, 2017
- Cast: Jesse Jackson, Rodney King, Maxine Waters, George Bush
- Directors: Daniel Lindsay, T.J. Martin
- Inclusion Information: Black actors
- Studio: National Geographic
- Genre: Documentary
- Topics: History
- Run time: 114 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: disturbing violence, bloody images, and language
- Last updated: March 31, 2022
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