Uma Canção para Latasha

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

This is not an easy watch, but it's worth watching every minute. It is exactly what the title says, a love song, and like so many love songs has heartbreak at its core. A young black girl shot, her life seemingly worth $1.79, and no justice. This could have been 1951 rather than 1991, and tragically could be 2021.

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.

The murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis cop in 2020 spawned a massive push for the US to focus more seriously on its history of racial issues. The Rodney King story is an obvious parallel. However, a lesser known topic from the Rodney King story is Latasha Harlins, a black girl shot by a convenience store owner only days after King's beating.

Sophia Nahli Allison's Academy Award-nominated documentary "A Love Song for Latasha" sets out to look at who Latasha Harlins was beyond the headlines. It's not the greatest documentary, but offers a good look at the life of this girl taken all too soon in an already tense climate. I recommend it.