Ava DuVernay Says in U.S. ‘Criminals Get Reelected, Make Millions of Dollars and Sell Electric Cars’ at Marrakech Festival

As a seasoned movie-goer and connoisseur of cinematic history, I find Ava DuVernay to be an unparalleled force in the film industry. Her ability to seamlessly transition from publicist to visionary filmmaker is truly inspiring, especially considering she found her calling on the set of Michael Mann’s “Collateral” in her 30s.

Ava DuVernay commented, during a discussion with Rosalie Varda at the Marrakech Film Festival, that the U.S. appears to be governed by individuals who act like criminals, while reflecting on the relevance of her Academy Award-nominated documentary “13th” today.

The politically-engaged filmmaker and activist denounced a double standard in the U.S. judicial system, saying “that criminality is seen as completely different than a Black kid on the corner who might sell marijuana. And so, you know, the Black kid is in prison for years and the criminals get reelected and make millions of dollars and sell electric cars.”

She stated that the term “13th” served to challenge the concept of who is considered a criminal, as well as who has the authority to determine what is right and what is wrong.

DuVernay expressed her belief that the documentary might not receive much attention, hidden on the less-visited pages of Netflix. However, when it was first released and climbed to the top spot in various countries, she believes this suggests a significant trend about our current state and the universal nature of prejudice and societal hierarchies across different parts of the world.

DuVernay shared insights about switching careers from a film publicist to a filmmaker in her thirties. She mentioned that it was during the set of Michael Mann’s “Collateral” where she first grasped her desire to be a filmmaker.

On that particular set, I served as a publicist, observing Michael Mann skillfully guide Tom Cruise and Javier Bardem through a scene. In that moment, a thought crossed my mind: ‘I wish I could do what he does, I aspire to be like Michael Mann.’

She mentioned a specific instance that resonated with her was when “Mann was attempting to clarify something, not to an actor, but to another person, and I found myself thinking, ‘If only he would express it this way.’

More to come…

2024-12-02 15:19

Ava DuVernay Says in U.S. ‘Criminals Get Reelected, Make Millions of Dollars and Sell Electric Cars’ at Marrakech Festival

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