Based on a true story, director Ryan Coogler has taken great care to show the needless act that occurred at Fruitvale Station, New Year’s Day 2009. One of police brutality, racism, and injustice, all of which were carried out on the unsuspecting 22-year-old Oscar Grant. Coogler takes the audience to see the personal life of Oscar Grant, seeing not just the daily struggles for those trying to get by in everyday America, but also of family, friends, love and the unassuming events that led to a tragedy.
The film begins with real footage of that fateful day, showing a group of police officers as they’re led by their own power trip and unwarranted views of self-justification, with disastrous consequences. The language used by the cops is racially driven and tells of the issues still found in many areas of America, and abroad today. But don’t turn away, this is a true story and in its retelling shows a harsh reality that many don’t want to acknowledge, but it’s important that you do.
In starting the film this way it sends a powerful message to those who watch – this happened, is happening, and this is how it turns out. Following on from the footage, the film begins with the day before hand – New Year’s Eve, and where we’re introduced to Oscar Grant (Michael B Jordan). He’s a dad who adores his daughter. A boyfriend who regrets cheating on the mother of his child. A son who wants to give his mum everything. He’s charismatic. He’s lost his job, and is faced with the pressure to provide for everyone he loves, including his sister. He’s also been to prison, but is trying to do better – and in showing all this Coogler doesn’t glorify Oscar Grant, but shows him as a multifaceted person – blood, sweat and tears, and in this it makes him more real to the audience. He could’ve been you or someone you know.
Oscar Grant is shown as someone who doesn’t want to let anyone down, he runs to solve his problems, just as he runs to avoid them. He’s also shown to be very kind-hearted, the scene with a stray dog emphasises this, even if it’s brutal to watch. Oscar also tries to ignore the less pleasant sides of life and of himself, burying his head in the sand until he’s reminded of where he was just a year ago – the audience shown a flash-back of Oscar being in prison and the effect it had on his family. In thinking back to this time, Jordan plays the desperation of Oscar to great effect, he doesn’t want to return to past mistakes, whilst acknowledging that he’s stuck. You hope for a better future for Oscar, while feeling in the pit of your stomach that it won’t come.
There are moments in the film that show the love and strength of family, its importance displayed above everything else, and nowhere is this seen more clearly than at a family dinner. The scene simple and effortlessly conveyed, showing a unity through a display of banter and warm open greetings. It’s nothing magical, but it’s beautiful in its portrayal here, for this is what matters to Oscar more than anything else, whilst telling the audience that this is the calm before the storm, for there are ominous hints of what’s to come. The film’s initial footage echoing back to you. To then a parade of warnings from the universe and sliding door moments; from suggestions to take the train instead of his car, Oscar’s little girl pleading for him to be safe, the bangs of fireworks, and lastly the cinematic pulling away of the train from the station, its eerie quietness haunting – as is its suggestion of no return. Each one making you feel the building of apprehension, along most of all with the wish and want for the real-life footage to not happen.
The actors here are all at their best, for you only ever see the people they play and not for a second the famous actors they deservedly are. I could gush over everyone, but I’ll save it for just a few. Melonie Diaz plays Oscar Grant’s girlfriend Sophina, and shows a temperance broken by lies but still in love, while wrapping you as the audience in her loss and fear at the end. The engaging Octavia Spencer stars as Oscar Grant’s mum, and when she tells him off you feel like you’re watching her talk to her real child; the motherly concerns, disappointments and hope for him being abundantly clear. While Michael B Jordan, captures a man whose stuck between fear, denial and hope, how much is true of Oscar Grant’s personality – only those closest to him will know. But he existed and in this Jordan is clearest on, his portrayal capturing someone who’s full of life.
Fruitvale Station is gripping, terribly sad, and highlights not just the immoral acts of the law when its meant to protect, but most of all the racism still in existence. It also reflects a light onto the audience about our judgements and misconceptions, such as from Oscar admitting he’s cheated, to then suspecting he’s doing it again when he talks to a pretty stranger or calls a girl – but you’re wrong, and in this the film makes you wonder how many other assumptions do you unknowingly make?
Director & Writer: Ryan Coogler
Other notable works:
- Judas and the Black Messiah 2021
- Creed II 2018
- Black Panther 2018
- Creed 2015
