Street Fight (2005)

Directed by Marshall Curry

When virtually unknown city council member Cory Booker attempted to unseat longtime incumbent mayor Sharpe James, he faced a literal wall of real world politics alone, and filmmaker Marshall Curry followed him incessantly, if only for lack of access to the Sharpe James campaign.

In mostly black Newark, New Jersey, long time mayor Sharpe James is beloved by the people, if only because they've never known anything else. When Marshall follows Cory Booker into the streets of Newark, where he educates its citizens on how things could be different, how Sharpe James is part of the reason their lives are in the dump, they are at first quick to defend their mayor, until the facts come out. In a town where the media is just as ignorant as the citizens, this is a revelation to many, and Booker quickly gains support for being open, honest, and genuinely interested.

Of course in politics all that gets Booker is mud slinging, being called a light skinned racist in ads and rumors, but receiving all smiles from the Mayor and his campaign people. Every attempt by the filmmaker to even ask James a question is immediately met with security or police, who identify him as "with Booker", when he's merely "with Booker" for lack of access to Sharpe James, who when confronted by a different camera man, has very few nice things to say to anyone.

James is an obvious politician, who no doubt did indeed use underhand tactics during the campaign. But this isn't meant to be a revelation. It's merely one man's resolve to change his city, and the losing battle he must wage in doing so. Even when things don't go his way though, Booker's indomitable spirit opens the eyes of the common citizen as his honesty and concern shows through.

With that said, I felt the point of the documentary was well made, that even losing battles are sometimes worth fighting, and that many great wars were won with many lost battles. It's this theme of hope that is interesting, as Booker was using many of the same themes and concepts that Barak Obama would later win a Presidential bid with, which is an interesting parallel, they are very similar politically. Let's hope we see a Cory Booker bid for President one day soon.

A compelling and heartfelt documentary, Street Fight is the classic American underdog story, but with real life weight to it, and real life consequences. In the end it might not be emotionally satisfying, but it's morally satisfying, which I feel brings a weightier meaning to the film.

9.2/10 (A-)