Fruitvale Station (2013)

Fruitvale Station tells the true, day‑in‑the‑life story of 22‑year‑old Oscar Grant III as he tries to start fresh on the last day of 2008. Over the course of the day we follow Oscar through ordinary, intimate moments—making amends with his mother, juggling a strained relationship with his girlfriend Sophina, caring for his young daughter Tatiana, and wrestling with his past and unemployment—which together build a portrait of a young man determined to change. The film culminates in the real‑life, tragic encounter at the Fruitvale BART station, when an interaction with police ends in Oscar’s fatal shooting. Viewers will experience a raw, naturalistic drama that blends quiet warmth and family tenderness with growing tension and sudden violence; the movie feels close and immediate, often like observational cinema, and it doesn’t shy away from the emotional consequences of the events. Expect to leave moved and unsettled—moved by the humanity of Oscar and his loved ones, and unsettled by the film’s powerful critique of police brutality and injustice. The story is both a personal portrait and a broader social statement, intended to provoke empathy, reflection, and conversation.

Actors: Michael B. Jordan, Melonie Diaz, Octavia Spencer

Director: Ryan Coogler

Runtime: 85 min

Genres: Biography, Crime, Drama

6.4 /10 85 /100 7.5 /10 7.5 /10