Street Fight (film)

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Street Fight
File:Streetfightmovieposter.jpg
Promotional poster for Street Fight
Directed by Marshall Curry
Produced by Marshall Curry
Written by Marshall Curry
Starring Cory Booker, Sharpe James, Al Sharpton
Distributed by Marshall Curry Productions
Release dates
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  • April 23, 2005 (2005-04-23) (Tribeca Film Festival)
  • November 5, 2005 (2005-11-05) (United States)
Running time
 83 minutes
Country United States
Language English

Street Fight is a 2005 documentary film by Marshall Curry, chronicling Cory Booker's 2002 campaign against Sharpe James for Mayor of Newark, New Jersey. Other credits include Rory Kennedy (executive producer), Liz Garbus (executive producer), Mary Manhardt (additional editor), Marisa Karplus (associate producer), and Adam Etline (story consultant). Street Fight screened at the 2005 Tribeca Film Festival and was later aired on the PBS series P.O.V. on July 5, 2005, and CBC Newsworld in Canada on May 7, 2006.

The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.[1]

Synopsis

The film details the hard-fought mayoral campaign by a young community activist and City Council member (Cory Booker) against a 16-year incumbent mayor (James) with a powerful political machine. The documentary follows Booker and several of his campaign workers from their early days of door-knocking on Newark streets through the campaign's dramatic conclusion.

Through the course of the film, Booker's living conditions, race, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, political affiliations, and his position in Newark are questioned. From 1998 to 2006, Booker lived in Brick Towers, one of the city's worst public housing buildings, which some accused to be a tactic for acceptance by his constituents. As the election campaigns escalate, Booker receives endorsements from Spike Lee, Cornel West, and other prominent African American figures.

The movie brings to light many issues plaguing minority communities in Newark and reveals how the city government has failed to acknowledge these issues. The film also raises questions of race, and what it means to be "black," as Sharpe James questions Booker's African American heritage and roots to his community.

Curry captures on film corrupt attempts by Mayor Sharpe James and city employees, including police and "code enforcement," to sabotage Booker's campaign, using tactics that include shutting down local businesses that hold Booker fundraisers, demoting city workers who support Booker, and demolishing Booker signs in violation of a standing order by a federal judge, in what becomes a true urban political "street fight." In one memorable scene, city police assault the documentary maker on a public sidewalk for filming the mayor, breaking the microphone off his camera in broad daylight in front of other journalists.

Aftermath

Booker fell short in his 2002 bid to unseat incumbent Sharpe James. In 2006, James decided not to run for a sixth term of office, and Booker defeated Ronald Rice, winning over 70% of the vote. On July 1, 2006, Booker was sworn in as the 36th mayor of Newark. Booker went on to become a U.S. Senator. James continued to serve in the New Jersey State Senate until 8 January 2008. In July 2007, James was indicted on federal charges. He was later convicted of five counts of fraud and sentenced to 27 months in prison.

Reception

Street Fight was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.[1] It received a 100% fresh rating from Rotten Tomatoes.[2] It was called "extraordinary" by David Denby (The New Yorker),[3] "vastly entertaining" by John Anderson (Variety),[4] and "filmmaking of the first order" by Scott Foundas (LA Weekly).[5]

Awards

See also

References

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External links

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