Parents' Guide to The Return

Movie NR 2022 45 minutes
The Return movie poster: A collage of scenes from the film, which includes African American students, alumni, and marching band members at HBCU schools

Common Sense Media Review

Sabrina McFarland By Sabrina McFarland , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 10+

Celebratory docu about historic Black college homecomings.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 10+?

Any Positive Content?

  • The Return Trailer
  • Still from The Return: Three African American Florida A&M University marching band trombone players, wearing the school's green, orange, and off-white uniforms and headwear
  • Still from The Return: In the foreground, three African American women standing in stadium bleachers, wearing business suits, royalty sashes, and crowns, and one Black man standing with the women, wearing business attire and a sash, at HBSC football game with other fans in the background
  • Still from The Return: Six African American women surrounded by a circle of onlookers perform dance steps, wearing light-colored halter tops, blue jeans, and white sneakers

Parent and Kid Reviews

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What's the Story?

THE RETURN is a documentary about the HBCU school experience shared by African American alumni. Will Packer, one of the film's executive producers and a Florida A&M University graduate, is a supporter of HBCU initiatives. Packer's production company is the documentary distributor. Through firsthand interviews and archival footage and photos, alumni and college administrators share HBCU stories about the traditions of annual weeklong homecomings and educational excellence at these historic institutions of higher education.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

Director Ali Muhammad provides an insightful perspective about the HBCU experience that may be helpful for college-bound African Americans. In The Return, alumni share anecdotes about their decision to choose an HBCU. Carmen Davis, a Talledega College graduate, recalls that "when I got ready to graduate from high school, I only applied to HBCUs. I had gone to a majority White high school, elementary school, middle school all my life, and I felt like I was deprived of culture." Morehouse College's Cassius Butts states that he "didn't have a choice," since family members, which include two grandmothers and a grandfather, attended HBCUs. And for Kelani Parker of Spelman College, it was important to go to "a place where I could feel safe, a place where I would be nurtured."

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the communication of the cast in The Return. How do they also demonstrate gratitude, perseverance, and teamwork ? Why are these important character strengths?

  • In what ways may the HBCU experience be important to African Americans? What can be the possible benefits of attending these schools?

  • The film describes HBCU homecomings as more than just an event, but like a Black family reunion. Do you agree or disagree? Why or why not?

Movie Details

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The Return movie poster: A collage of scenes from the film, which includes African American students, alumni, and marching band members at HBCU schools

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