I stumbled upon this trailer for The Interrupters a little while ago and wanted to share it with you. Inspired by a New York Times magazine article, the documentary brings us an inside look into the devastating effects of gang violence in Chicago and the ex-criminals trying to stop the violence that plagues their city. This looks like it’ll be a very moving film, even though it may be a little difficult watch at times. But with violent crime on the rise in New Zealand, The Interrupters should provide us with an interesting insight into a society were a more fully evolved gang culture exists and how anti-violence messages become more difficult to deliver the more evolved the culture is. Check out the incredible 4 minute trailer below. 

The Interrupters had its World Premiere at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. The film was recently been picked up by a US distributor for theatrical release, which increases the chances we’ll get to see it in theatres here – which is great news.

Enjoy!

From acclaimed director Steve James (Hoop Dreams) and bestselling author Alex Kotlowitz, The Interrupters tells the moving and surprising stories of three ‘violence interrupters’, working to  who try to protect their Chicago communities from the violence they once employed. Shot over the course of a year, The Interrupters follows these individuals as they attempt to intervene in disputes before they turn violent: a family where two brothers threaten to shoot each other; an angry teenage girl just home from prison; a young man on a warpath of a revenge. The film captures not only each interrupters’ work, but reveals their own inspired journeys from crime to hope and redemption.

What do you think of the trailer? A must watch or a little too raw for your taste?