Wow, you want to see this: When They See Us on Netflix
Every now and then you come across a movie or series that leaves you momentarily speechless. Especially when you find out that it tells true stories that aren't that long ago. I had to swallow hard, because the events in this series are... well, not mild. And it's bizarre to imagine that this was the reality in America about thirty years ago. When They See Us is such a series. Intense: the actors who played the lead roles even received mental health support afterwards. Um yes, then you indeed know that it will be a very intense series. It has four episodes, and unlike the series you binge-watch in one go, the creator (Ava DuVernay) recommends not watching this series in one go due to sleepless nights and so on. Don't let that scare you off, because once again: you absolutely want to see this series.
When They See Us tells the story of The Central Park Five. These are five boys (four African American and one Latino) who were accused in 1989 of the rape of a white woman in Central Park, New York. Small but very important detail: they were all five not even in the vicinity when that rape took place. Yet they were arrested and convicted. Only in 2014 did they receive a (absolutely justified) compensation, after DNA proved the real rapist in 2002.
The miniseries shows how these five boys were manipulated into a false confession and how they were labeled as the perpetrators in the media from the very beginning. A fact you should definitely know: Donald Trump also made his voice heard during this media circus. In fact, he bought a newspaper ad for 85 thousand dollars in which he argued that the death penalty should be reinstated for these five boys. What the...? Okay, that man has always been a nightmare. To make this a little clearer, DuVernay used the original footage of Trump.
Not the happiest Netflix recommendation today, but wow, this series leaves quite an impression on you. The series follows the actual events quite closely, so I can also recommend reading up on The Central Park Five. There's a good chance you'll be left speechless. Well, as I said, this is not the easiest series to binge-watch, but I do think it's important to see. Next time again a pick-me-up, I promise.
