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Parents' Guide to

On These Grounds

By Jordan Elizabeth, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Chilling docu about racist policing practices in schools.

Movie NR 2021 108 minutes
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On These Grounds is tough yet necessary viewing on racist, violent policing practices in U.S. schools. The documentary examines the incident at Spring Valley High from a number of angles and includes interviews with multiple individuals involved. While this approach softens the point of view of the filmmakers, it means viewers meet both the victims of the crime, who are still reckoning with their trauma, and the perpetrators, who are steadfast in their innocence. All of it is difficult to digest. The repeated footage of police officers assaulting children is chilling, and there's a balance the filmmakers must strike between exposing these realities and numbing viewers' sensitivity to the violence. While On These Grounds isn't easy viewing, it shows how both laws and individuals perpetrate violence on Black children and provides examples of resilience, perseverance, and resistance in the face of injustice.

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