Fruitvale Station tells the story of Oscar Grant III, a young black Oakland man’s last day before being shot and killed by a Bay Area Regional Transit police officer the morning of New Year’s Day in 2009. Viewers could not help but correlate the film to the recent news of the Travyon Martin trial as the movie was coincidentally released the weekend after the ‘not guilty’ verdict of George Zimmerman.
High praises and numerous positive reviews were given to the film deeming it impressive, passionate and compelling. Fruitvale Station debuted at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival and won the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award for U.S dramatic film.
Director Ryan Coogler and Producer Forest Whitaker took pride in showing the human side of Grant that was not portrayed in the news following his death. Grant wasn’t perfect. He had flaws but he was also relatable as many viewers could picture themselves in his situation or may have had similar struggles.
Starring Friday Night Lights‘ Michael B. Jordan, the actor recalls seeing the video footage of Grant’s death recorded from a cell phone and uploaded to YouTube. “I remember watching it over and over and over and over, just trying to find a reason, a justification for it happening and I couldn’t find one.
When the opportunity came up four years later for me to play this role, I kind of felt a certain sense of responsibility to play that character,” he added.
The film also stars The Help’s Octavia Spencer as Wanda, Grant’s mother.
Most recently as of July 30th, 2013, The U.S 9th Circuit Court of Appeals made the decision to permit Oscar Grant III’s father to sue the former BART police officer who killed his son. A federal appeals court rejected the former officer Johannes Mehserle’s claim that he was acting in his official capacity. Mehserle said he reached to fire his Taser and accidentally used his gun. He was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to two years in prison.
Fruitvale Station grossed $386, 291 it’s opening weekend.
