Nineteen Summers avoids easy answers as it lays bare the stories of the young men profiled in this film about loyalty and vengeance, while teasing at the potential for a better life away from the streets. I thought the writing was gritty and fantastic. It's a good thing to be frustrated sometimes, because that reflects the reality of so many people born into a life of poverty, police brutality and limited options, so resisting the urge to craft a feel-good story in this context helps illuminate the injustices, while at the same time providing a nuanced record of the ramifications of the choices people make. In short, it's complicated and that's what is so real about the film.
Cinematography and production value was fantastic, the performances were on-point and I think we'll be seeing more from this director.
