The shooting death of Jordan Davis in 2012 was a part of a string of deaths of black men, women and children that have happened over the past three years and beyond. Like other stories, Davis and his character were funneled through the rigmarole of discourse that happens after every tragedy. Whether it be character assassination or reversing that narrative, it’s almost par course for those on the outside watching to make sense of what’s happened and offer up our versions of the truth.
3 ½ Minutes, 10 Bullets goes through the trial proceedings leading up to Michael Dunn’s conviction. While the film does work a sleight of hand in reaffirming a belief that most of us have had — Davis was shot because of implicit racial bias — we are still confronted with a reality that we don’t think of too often: proving innocence in the courtroom.
As much as this was a documentary about the trial, this was a film that forced us to confront our belief in the justice system. As the film shows, it was more or less an open-and-shut case. There was no way Dunn was going to walk free, but the audience can surely remember when that wasn’t a for sure thought.
Throughout the film, there is a sense of calm because we know the outcome. During a screening at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, moments of the film sparked an audible reaction from the audience, such as calls from Dunn to his fiancé, what Dunn says about Davis and his friends, the fiancé’s testimony and other moments. Hearing some of it was a shock, but not completely bothersome. It doesn’t matter how it make us feel now because we got the verdict we wanted. This documentary is a bonus, the outtakes, the director’s cut you would see in a DVD set. It’s not anything we need, but it’s interesting to learn about.
But you can’t help but remember that there was a chance that this verdict would not come. It initially didn’t come. Dunn had to be tried a second time for the 2nd degree murder of Davis. Putting yourself in the courtroom and thinking back to when the case was ongoing can send you for a trip. The evidence presented, the affect and demeanor of the witnesses is enough to convince you of what the verdict should be. And although you may know with unwavering certainty that Dunn should be found guilty, there’s nothing you can do to make it so. All there’s left to do is hold your breath, wait and hope they get it right.
When George Zimmerman was found not guilty in Trayvon Martin’s death, there was outrage, there was shock and when the dust settled, a consensus was made: of course he wasn’t found guilty. Why could we believe that justice could ever be on our side? We know black lives matter, but can we believe that others believe the same?
The impact of this film is not the story that is told. You’ll see Davis’ friends joking around, rapping and being teenagers. You’ll see archival footage of a baby Jordan bouncing on his father’s lap and being held by his mother. It’s a standard documentary of news events that made headlines. You’ll see the backstory, the backstory that you probably pieced together for yourself. The viewer might relish in this victory, but what the film delivers best is leaving us ambivalent. If and/or when this happens again, will the law be on our side? Is this case the exception to the rule? Will we always be waiting with bated breath?
3 ½ Minutes, 10 Bullets airs on HBO on Monday, Nov 23, on the three-year anniversary of the shooting.
Chinwe Oniah is a freelance writer in New York City. She writes about music, culture, television and film. Follow her on Twitter @waysofthechin or at chinweoniah.com.
