The Land
CAST: Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Moises Arias, Rafi Gavron, Erykah Badu DIRECTOR: Steven Caple Jr. SCREENING + PANEL DISCUSSION
Executive producer Nas presents this vivid inner-city saga set amidst Cleveland's hip-hop underground. Teenage buddies Cisco (Jorge Lendeborg Jr.), Junior (Moises Arias), Boobie (Ezri Walker), and Patty Cake (Rafi Gavron) shrug off school to practice skateboarding, which they hope will be their ticket to a better life. In the meantime, they steal cars to finance their dream. But when they get mixed up in a drug deal and cross a ruthless crime queen-pin (Linda Emond), they put their friendship--and lives--on the line. Set to a choice hip-hop soundtrack and featuring an impressive ensemble cast that includes The Wire's Michael K. Williams, Erykah Badu, and rapper Machine Gun Kelly, The Land crackles with the energy and poetry of the streets.
Screening & Panel presented partnership with Tacoma Surf Club
Steven Caple Jr. is a filmmaker worth watching, here and in the future.Glenn Kenny, RogerEbert.com
Caple emphasizes the desperation that breeds street crime, and he never tries to puff his kids up into heroes. They're just kids who feel insulted by the few prospects that seem available to them.Alan Scherstuhl, Village Voice
