Hold Your Fire

Released May 20, 2022

1 hr. 33 min.

Documentary

History

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List

95%

44 Reviews

Tomatometer

53%

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Audience Score

In 1973, four young African-American men stealing guns for self-defense in Brooklyn were cornered by the NYPD. A violent gun battle killed a police officer, beginning the longest hostage siege in NYPD history. The NYPD's 130-year-old policy was to deliver an ultimatum, then respond with deadly force. Could visionary police psychologist Harvey Schlossberg convince his superiors to do the unthinkable -- negotiate with "criminals" -- and save twelve hostages from an impending bloodbath? In never-before-seen film and gripping interviews with survivors, HOLD YOUR FIRE uncovers what really happened in this landmark event with the potential to revolutionize American policing.

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Premiered May 21

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Critics Consensus

A documentary with the heart of a thriller, Hold Your Fire edifies just as adroitly as it enrages.

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David F

This is a pretty good documentary about a hold up of a sporting goods store in New York City that resulted in a hostage situation, before police forces really had any experience or training, or even a real philosophy of what to do to defuse hostage situations. It's really enriched by interviews with the hostage takers, the hostages, and the police, and the different perspectives are really different. Contemporary archival footage adds to the feeling you get that you are there.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/03/24

Full Review

jo k

Very powerful, honest, revealing.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/08/23

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dave d

Stefan Forbes' 'Hold Your Fire' takes a look at a robbery and the ripples it has caused nearly 30 years later. The approach of different perspectives at the same event and how they looked at things then and now is nuanced and imperative. Incredibly, so many of the people involved are still alive, or at least were at the filming of the interviews. This is an important film, but also one you need to have an open mind. If you don't you'll be doomed. If you're filled with hate you won't like this film. That is really the best barometer. Compassionate and self-aware people will love this and ones who incorrectly surmise they are will despise it. Final Score: 9/10

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Stunning cinematography. Key historical perspective and present-day interviews with hostages, the police, and the men who initiated the standoff. The director also produced Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story. In this film, he reprises one of his unique superpowers: getting his subjects (particularly police officers) to confess their deepest feelings and perceptions about race and violence in America. Absolutely essential to understanding the social context of police violence and mass incarceration, both in the 1970s and today. Even when you know the outcome, the suspense builds. The soundtrack is also phenomenal. The copy at the end is shocking, and really points to the ineffectiveness of our carceral system.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

Full Review

greg r

Meh. The critics are going a little overboard in the praise for this long documentary, that felt longer than the actual standoff.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Stefan Forbes

Director

Shu'aib Raheem

Self

Harvey Schlossberg

Self

Stefan Forbes

Writer

Tia Wou

Producer

Fab 5 Freddy

Producer

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87%

71%

Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn

86%

53%

Did You Wonder Who Fired the Gun?

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Two Gods

100%

88%

Free Chol Soo Lee

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Hold Your Fire: Trailer 1

2:22

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Mark Feeney

Boston Globe

Forbes does something daring with the interviews. He will juxtapose comments that are contradictory, not necessarily in fact but in interpretation or emphasis. This creates a kind of stereo effect that enlarges the film.

Rated: 3/4

May 26, 2022

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Odie Henderson

RogerEbert.com

The excellent and infuriating Hold Your Fire has all the twists and turns of the best hostage movie thrillers.

Rated: 3.5/4

May 20, 2022

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Noel Murray

Los Angeles Times

The multiple perspectives in “Hold Your Fire” add up to a fascinating look back at a still-raging debate over the true purpose of policing.

May 20, 2022

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Erick Estrada

Cinegarage

Sad, very dark... tremendously revealing. [Full review in Spanish]

Jul 8, 2022

Full Review

Carla Hay

Culture Mix

The compelling documentary Hold Your Fire has lessons that go beyond this chronicle of a notorious hostage crisis that happened in New York City in 1973. The movie shows how dangerous situations can be de-escalated with the correct communication.

Jul 4, 2022

Full Review

Phil Guie

Film-Forward.com

What Hold Your Fire accomplishes especially well is its objectivity. It never pushes too hard to exonerate or prove the guilt of any side.

Rated: 5/5

Jun 23, 2022

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Synopsis

In 1973, four young African-American men stealing guns for self-defense in Brooklyn were cornered by the NYPD. A violent gun battle killed a police officer, beginning the longest hostage siege in NYPD history. The NYPD's 130-year-old policy was to deliver an ultimatum, then respond with deadly force. Could visionary police psychologist Harvey Schlossberg convince his superiors to do the unthinkable -- negotiate with "criminals" -- and save twelve hostages from an impending bloodbath? In never-before-seen film and gripping interviews with survivors, HOLD YOUR FIRE uncovers what really happened in this landmark event with the potential to revolutionize American policing.

Director: Stefan Forbes
Screenwriter: Stefan Forbes, Stefan Forbes
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: InterPositive Media
Genre: Documentary, History
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 20, 2022, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 20, 2022
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.0K

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