A colleague asked me how this film was the day after I saw it and the answer was "It's great. It'll crush your soul, but it was great."
Detroit is a an American crime drama based on the true story of a race-based riot in Detroit in 1967. It all started with police raiding an unlicensed club in which a group of black people were celebrating the return of war veterans. Much of the film is based on an incident in which some white policemen think they've been shot at by a black person, causing them to hold the group of black people hostage and torture them until someone confesses. That's the short version (cut to the chase version, you might say) and does not do justice to how painful it is to watch. The discrimination and racism is brutal and just awful to watch.
This brings me to the key point. This film is very good - it's well executed and the performances are excellent. So if you want to be challenged a little, think a little and feel pretty awkwardly squirmy, then this is for you. If you are looking for a film that's a bit of light entertainment to make you smile, this ain't it.
A four star review from news.com.au here if you'd like to know more.
Trailer here. In cinemas Thursday 9 November.