A Love Song for Latasha

"A Love Song for Latasha" isn't only a sentimental recollection--although it's that, too--of the life of Latasha Harlins, who was shot to death in the back of the head by a convenience store owner over, as the documentary short says, a dispute regarding a container of orange juice. While the 1992 Los Angels riots, or uprising, are usually described as a consequence of the acquittal of the officers who were videotaped beating Rodney King, this picture also considers the killing of Latasha, whose killer was convicted for manslaughter and never sentenced to prison, as a contributing factor. Much of this is told in the over-used style of text at the end of the movie before the credits. Before that, however, we get a uniquely constructed piece of documentary filmmaking.

Although only 19 minutes long, it took a while for me to warm up to the style of the picture--initially finding it distracting from the interviewees' recollections of Latasha's friend and cousin, including about her dream of becoming an attorney. Regardless, it's an innovative approach of recreated or reimagined footage as if from old home videos, often played as if being rewound, reflexively displaying the marks of its making, such as the addition of seemingly VHS static, haunting and always poetic. The real videotape at the center of the news story of Latasha's death is never shown here, on the other hand. Ultimately, "A Love Song for Latasha" isn't about her death; it's about the character and aspirations of a 15-year-old girl whose life was tragically cut short.

A very painful documentary, broken dreams, revolt, and widespread outrage at the disproportionate violence and latent injustice, Soon Ja Du, a 51-year-old Korean, did not serve a single day in prison, and that fact also contributes to the Uprising Los Angeles in 1992 and remembered in the Black Lives Matter, a simple production, however necessary, with only speeches and memories from friends and relatives...

Its very sad, and while the film style is unique and scattered its very beautifully told. Its beautiful her family and friends still carry on her legacy. I highly recommend, its a good reminder how little we value some people and how racism can cut someone's life short

I ended up watching this because I am working my way through the Oscar nominations. I knew nothing about the subject matter. The 19 minutes pf this work are very lyrical-abstract animation is even used-and the underlying story is one of raw emotional power. The short fulfills its title as it is largely a remembrance about Latasha by her friends and family. No time is spent on the larger context-it is singularly about Latasha in herself. The film is admirable in that regard but I wish there was like a minute of larger context to bookend the core of the short. It feels like a very well done home movie.

A mini-documentary. It is about the murder of a teenage girl in the 90's and the feelings of her acquaintances. Piercing. Raw. Quality. The narrations and the recreation of her voice are exemplary. Animations and skits are fine. Seek justice and promptly expose the harassment experienced by people of color in certain neighborhoods in the United States. In 20 minutes it leaves you with a sour taste. In the end it could be you or I who tragically loses my life while going to the store. It is a documentary made with love that reclaims the life of a black girl. Safety pin.