'It gave me a sense of healing, not so much closure' Eric Garner's widow appears in new docudrama film
Record ID:
1562710
'It gave me a sense of healing, not so much closure' Eric Garner's widow appears in new docudrama film
- Title: 'It gave me a sense of healing, not so much closure' Eric Garner's widow appears in new docudrama film
- Date: 14th July 2020
- Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (JULY 13, 2020) (REUTERS VIA ZOOM) (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR, ROEE MESSINGER, SAYING: "There were no actors, there was no script. Most of the scenes were done in a single take. We shot the whole thing in one day, the whole trial was shot in one day. So there was very little control while we were filming. But I think the preparation we made was so meticulous and thorough that on the day of there were few surprises." NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES (JULY 13, 2020) (REUTERS VIA ZOOM) (SOUNDBITE) (English) ERIC GARNER'S WIDOW, ESAW SNIPES GARNER, SAYING: "I think he's up there laughing right now because he's like, what, my baby is really gone on screen and talking to somebody, wow. Like, you know, I'm not an 'out-there-person.' So, this kind of put me out there. You know, I was an at-home mom, raising my children, you know, never really went anywhere, I'm a homebody, you know. And after Eric's death, I was everywhere doing everything, things that I never thought could be possible."
- Embargoed: 28th July 2020 14:04
- Keywords: cop death docudrama eric garner film george floyd movie new york police trial
- Location: UNKNOWN FILM LOCATIONS / NEW YORK, NEW YORK + NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES
- City: UNKNOWN FILM LOCATIONS / NEW YORK, NEW YORK + NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Film
- Reuters ID: LVA006CMS6UKN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Art is giving Eric Garner's family the trial that the justice system never provided them.
"When the non-indictment came through it was just, it kind of became, I guess, an obsession," said director Roee Messinger.
"Then one day it just occurred to me, I live in New York, everybody thinks there should have been a trial. Everybody who would have testified in court is probably within a 15-20 mile radius of me, probably wouldn't be all that difficult to track them down."
In February 2017 Messinger filmed "American Trial: The Eric Garner Story," which "depicts the trial that never took place against NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo, who was videotaped choking Eric Garner to death in July 2014." Garner's widow, Esaw Snipes-Garner and actual witnesses play themselves in the unscripted courtroom docudrama.
Garner's death on a sidewalk during an arrest for allegedly selling untaxed cigarettes, and his gasped final words "I can't breathe" caught on bystander video, played a key role in the rise of the movement decrying excessive use of force by police officers against black men and teenagers in the United States.
Snipes-Garner hoped the film would help bring officer Pantaleo to trial, provide healing for herself and help Messinger's film career.
"I was thinking maybe it would give some insight to the legal people to, like take from what Roee put together and open up their minds to see what everybody else saw on camera. And unfortunately, it didn't happen that way," said Snipes-Garner.
"It gave me a sense of healing, not so much closure, she added.
The film features interviews with two Black Lives Matter activists and as Messinger describes "two white conservative academics" to give the film a documentary feel.
"There were no actors, there was no script. Most of the scenes were done in a single take. We shot the whole thing in one day, the whole trial was shot in one day. So, there was very little control while we were filming," explained Messinger.
As the world marks the sixth anniversary of Garner's death on July 17th, his widow said everyday is painful.
"I miss him every day and more at night. You know, when you live with somebody for 26 years and all of a sudden they're not there anymore, you know, it's really hard."
However, she laughs when she thinks about what he must be thinking as he watches her from heaven.
"I think he's up there laughing right now because he's like, what, my baby is really gone on screen and talking to somebody, wow."
The U.S. Department of Justice examined the case for years, but announced it would not prosecute Pantaleo, saying there was not enough evidence that he breached Garner's rights.
In 2015, New York City paid a $5.9 million settlement to Garner's family to avoid a civil lawsuit.
The film debuted on U.S. cable channel Reelz in June and is currently available to view on www.altavod.com.
(Production: Alicia Powell) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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