Oakland is a city that holds more than just the School and many of our homes, with a rich culture and history that is expressed in modern films, including Blindspotting (2018), Sorry to Bother You (2018), and Fruitvale Station (2013). These movies tell powerful stories set or filmed in Oakland, highlighting the city’s streets, stories, and people that make it the diverse place it is today.
Blindspotting, directed by Carlos López Estrada, stars Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal and follows a man named Collin on probation trying to stay out of trouble in the changing city of Oakland. The film’s mix of humor, drama, and poetry illuminates how gentrification and racism impact the city’s residents. The movie is funny yet heartbreaking, displaying how Oakland’s engaging and entertaining culture collides with inequality in the city’s changing environment.
Sorry to Bother You, written and directed by Boots Riley, takes a surreal approach to Oakland life. It follows Cassius Green, a telemarketer who discovers how to succeed in the field, but is pulled into a strange world of greed and exploitation. The story is overexaggerated and outside the box, but it reflects real issues like economic inequality, racial identity, and the pressures of selling out in a capitalist environment.
Fruitvale Station is a film directed by Ryan Coogler, based on the true story of Oscar Grant, a 22-year-old Black man who was killed by BART police at the Fruitvale BART station, just 3 miles from our School, in 2009. The movie is very intimate and emotional, showing Grant’s last day with his friends and family. Although difficult to digest, it is important in understanding modern issues of police violence and racial profiling, especially given its proximity to our community.
Freaky Tales, also directed by Ryan Coogler, is a bold and experimental film with four connected stories set in Oakland in 1987. The movie uses local landmarks like the Oakland Coliseum, the Grand Lake Theater, and Giant Burger to highlight the city’s setting. It mixes fantasy, history, and social norms, with characters like punk rockers, skaters, and resistance fighters. By revisiting Oakland’s past with a creative twist, the film highlights the city’s deep cultural roots and rebellious spirit.
Together, these films depict a mixed view of Oakland, showing its creativity, struggles, and resilience. They highlight how art, activism, and everyday life overlap in the city’s history. These movies are great entertainment, but they can also help us think about race, class, and change in our communities and how they impact the School’s culture. Oakland’s history is ever-evolving, and these films help us see why it matters.