A Letter To Black Men

A former prisoner tries to prevent a youth from going down the wrong path.

Kevin (Lihau) is an unmotivated young man who commits petty crime, socialises with the wrong people and lives with his sister Kelsie (Murrell), who is against criminal activities. Black (Oyejide) is an old acquaintance of theirs who has just been released from prison and has understood his errors. When he finds out that Kevin is getting more and more involved with crime, he decides to take action and try to stop him from making the same mistakes.

This short crime drama takes a hard-hitting look into urban crime, particularly gang violence, drug dealing and their consequences. Storywise, this film is about a reformed ex-convict making efforts to make a naive young man understand that committing crime will destroy his life, which proves difficult, as Kevin refuses to listen. There is a great deal of drama and confrontation and crime, including beatings and drugs.

The protagonists deliver very strong performances. Oyejide is superb as a good-hearted individual who has turned his back on crime and tries to act as a mentor to Kevin and help him make the right choices and appreciate the value of education. Lihau's character is a youngster who does not see the wrongs of being a criminal and Murrell does a great job as Kevin's caring sister.

Sukami directs very well and creates some well-executed long takes. Director of photography Miguel Carmenes develops beautiful cinematography and the dramatic music is a significant addition that includes wonderful guitar and piano melodies. The dramatic voice-over adds to the atmosphere.

This is a powerful drama that deals with the devastating consequences of being a criminal. However, there is more to this story than crime, as it explores the importance of support, making amends and making the right decisions.