17 Blocks

Released Oct 30, 2019

1h 36m

Documentary

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100%

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28 Reviews

Two decades of film footage shows the Sanford family struggling with addiction and gun violence before finding love and acceptance.

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Selome Hailu

Austin Chronicle

Some moments would have benefitted from a more nuanced and creative soundtrack rather than trite piano tracks that tell you how to feel. Still, even when the direction is heavy-handed, the Sanfords are just too compelling to ignore.

Rated: 3.5/5

Feb 25, 2021

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Angie Han

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

It's a vey sensitive, nonjudgmental exploration of some very tricky topics that's made all the more powerful by the intimacy of its perspective.

Feb 20, 2021

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Claudia Puig

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

It's heart-wrenching and revelatory.

Feb 20, 2021

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Josh Parham

Next Best Picture

Rothbart is an accomplished filmmaker in his own right and certainly takes great care to assemble this footage in a way that doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities this family has endured, but he also doesn’t seek to judge them.

Rated: 7/10

Jun 5, 2022

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Todd Jorgenson

Cinemalogue

While illustrating the hardships facing low-income families virtually in the shadow of lawmakers, on a personal level the film also finds hope amid the heartbreak.

Jan 7, 2022

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Suzette Smith

The Stranger (Seattle, WA)

You can't take your eyes off 17 Blocks for even a second.

Mar 6, 2021

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greg r

A beautiful and heartbreaking look at a family, Their choices, their circumstances, and resilience. Filmed over two decades. Stick this one out until the end.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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david f

A riveting documentary about a family in Washington D.C. filmed over 20 plus years.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

brent m

Culled from 20 years of raw video footage, this up-close look at a Washington, DC family afflicted by the perils of drug addiction and gun violence examines the challenges of dealing with temptation, fending off negative influences and seeking redemption. In doing so, this gripping documentary tells a story of questionable choices, profound heartbreak and the search for inspiration to turn things around. While the film sometimes comes across as a slice of life vehicle at the outset, it definitely grows stronger with the passage of time, presenting material that's increasingly more involving and heartrending as it proceeds. Director Davy Rothbart's sensitive but uncensored look at a family in crisis deservedly earned a 2020 Independent Spirit Award nomination for the competition's Truer Than Fiction Award, a quality that comes through loud and clear in this engaging offering.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This raw found-footage piece is an essential viewing on class and race in the United States. Honest, heartfelt, and intimate, this film truly lets you into the lives of the Sanford-Durant family, who have been brave enough to share their story with the world.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

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Davy Rothbart

Director

Davy Rothbart

Writer

Jennifer Tiexiera

Writer

Jennifer Tiexiera

Executive Producer

Sheila Nevins

Executive Producer

Michael B. Clark

Producer

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Synopsis

Two decades of film footage shows the Sanford family struggling with addiction and gun violence before finding love and acceptance.

Director: Davy Rothbart
Producer: Jennifer Tiexiera, Sheila Nevins
Screenwriter: Davy Rothbart, Jennifer Tiexiera
Production Co: Beachside Films
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 30, 2019, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 30, 2021
Runtime: 1h 36m