A Week in Watts

Very well produced documentary that focuses on a program that mentors middle school age kids from the worst neighborhoodsn in Watts. Very inspiring look at the positive work being done by the police and the community.

Must watch for anyone passionate about Social Justice, community activism, and mentoring at-risk youth.

Don't miss it.

This film is one-sided and a disservice to the community.

This film gives an extremely one sided portrayal of police-community interactions in Watts, centered around one particular police non-profit. The only perspectives included are those of police officers, the occasional random community member (all of whom conveniently love cops), and the families and school officials directly involved with the non-profit.

Not a single dissenting voice is heard.

They do not interview a single person who isn't overwhelmingly pro-police.

LAPD is portrayed as being an altruistic presence, solely focused on the well-being of children. The camera follows the faces of Black officers while emotional stories of how the community members just "don't understand" that they should actually like the police.

Meanwhile Watts and its residents are shown as being defined by violence, drugs, and broken homes. Completely helpless without the saving presence of the police. (no non-police community support groups are shown of course).

This movie was made by Greg Caruso. You might be more familiar with his father - billionaire and former mayoral candidate Rick Caruso, president of the LA police commission.

Feel-good propaganda for the LAPD made by the willing hands of the wealthy and radically pro-police Caruso family.

Zero Estellas. From the interviews with the police in this Doc, it's made out like they're compassionate, sympathetic, helpful, basically as the motto they claim.

I don't know? I couldn't finish it, it made me very angry seeing everyone in Watts portrayed as either a drug addict/ dealer, gang member, prostitute, or homeless, from the view of the LEO's interviewed. It seems very much like a promotional Doc. Anyway, I didn't like it, it made me feel icky. Zero Estellas.

Thank you for highlighting what some of the positives that are coming out of the community! Kudos to those children for being so resilient! Thank you for the officer who helped to create the partnership with such an amazing community organization.