American Promise

Released Oct 18, 2013

2h 20m

Documentary

List

72%

25 Reviews

Tomatometer

74%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Filmmakers Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson follow their son and his best friend through the U.S. educational system. Though both boys start out at the prestigious Dalton School, circumstances later force one into a public high school.

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John Anderson

Newsday

A misbegotten project, as well as a missed opportunity.

Rated: C

Feb 3, 2014

Full Review

Radheyan Simonpillai

NOW Toronto

f Idris is different because he's African American, he stands out even more because he has a camera crew following him to class.

Rated: 2/5

Jan 3, 2014

Full Review

Peter Keough

Boston Globe

Not only provides illuminating insights into racial and cultural issues, but explores family dynamics common to all.

Rated: 3/4

Nov 21, 2013

Full Review

Ryan Syrek

The Reader (Omaha, NE)

Unlike Waiting for Superman, the documentary isn't pointing fingers or offering solutions, which can feel frustrating. But it stands as the most heavily researched, thorough example of the education of black males by caring parents.

Rated: B

Aug 27, 2019

Full Review

Bernard Boo

Way Too Indie

Stephenson and Brewster's sprawling filmic experiment is an achievement of both cinema and activism, and future studies of complicated uphill battles will hopefully lead to societal and educational progress for young black males.

Rated: 8.1

Apr 10, 2019

Full Review

Christopher Campbell

Nonfics

Doesn't hold your hand as it reaches what it's conveying. It's a difficult doc that plays easy.

Rated: 4/5

May 30, 2014

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Audience Member

As an enlightener on the problems created for people because of their race, I have not seen a better movie. A must watch for anyone troubled by unfairness and mistreatment.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

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Audience Member

An interesting documentary about two students being filmed from their kindergarten days until their 2012 high school graduation.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It was illuminating and gave me the chance to understand and interpret the film in my own way. It did not give off the impression of having a specific agenda, although we at times knew the parents' sentiment. It was just so open, and fulfilled the unpredictability of life.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

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Audience Member

Interesting documentary.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Loved it! As a parent of five young children, three of them boys, I identified with the parents in this movie, and saw my boys in the sons. Will rewatch this with my children and use the movie as a gateway to giving them insight and inspiration for working to set educational goals and achieve them.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

Full Review

Audience Member

http://www.clevelandmovieblog.com/2014/01/american-promise-january-3rd-and-5th-at.html

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

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Synopsis

Filmmakers Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson follow their son and his best friend through the U.S. educational system. Though both boys start out at the prestigious Dalton School, circumstances later force one into a public high school.

Director: Joe Brewster, Michele Stephenson
Producer: Simon Kilmurry, Dan Cogan
Distributor: Rada Film Group
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 18, 2013, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 13, 2017
Runtime: 2h 20m

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