On These Grounds

Released Sep 24, 2021

1h 48m

Documentary

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88%

Tomatometer

8 Reviews

80%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

An explosive video goes viral, showing a white school resource officer in South Carolina pull a Black teenager from her school desk and throw her across the floor. An outraged nation divides over who is at fault and what role race played in the incident. Healer-Activist Vivian Anderson uproots her life in NYC and moves to South Carolina to help the girl and dismantle the system behind the "Assault at Spring Valley," including facing the police officer. To contextualize this incident, geographer Janae Davis treks the surrounding swamps to unearth the overgrown and neglected homes of formerly enslaved people of African descent, drawing a throughline connecting trauma from the past to present. Against the backdrop of a racial reckoning and its deep historical roots, one incident illuminates a persistent American power structure. Much like the nation at large, the arresting officer and the girl thrown from the desk have starkly different perspectives of what happened. Through intimate verite footage and extensive interviews with both, a hidden truth is unearthed about what actually happened that day. Throughout the film, select scholars, historians, and experts provide further context to the story, as well as an examination of race, school discipline, and police accountability.

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Inkoo Kang

Hollywood Reporter

Well intentioned but messy... its impact undermined by its hazy focus.

Mar 23, 2021

Full Review

Jordan Elizabeth

Common Sense Media

While On These Grounds isn't easy viewing, it shows how both laws and individuals enact violence on Black children and provides examples of resilience, perseverance, and resistance in the face of injustice.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 28, 2021

Full Review

Kip Mooney

College Movie Review

One of the most well-rounded and vital documentaries in recent years.

Rated: B+

Aug 10, 2021

Full Review

Jennie Kermode

Eye for Film

It's an intriguing look at how opinions can form within cultural bubbles which completely defy a rational analysis of widely available evidence.

Rated: 4.5/5

Mar 26, 2021

Full Review

Peter Sobczynski

eFilmCritic.com

This engrossing documentary from Garrett Zeygetis examines the entire case in granular detail utilizing interviews with all the key players.

Mar 25, 2021

Full Review

Joel Fisher

Battle Royale With Cheese

Spring Valley shows that even in a post-Trump era, America still has a long way to go to reverse the damage caused by institutional racism.

Mar 23, 2021

Full Review

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dave d

Sometimes unfocused, but necessary and fair portrait of the disconnect of Police Officers in schools and the disproportionate punishment based on race and gender. When the film is zoomed in on the disconnect of school resource officers and students, particularly those of color, it's best. When it drifts away from that lane it feels like a totally different film. Informative and thoughtful and a must to increase your worldview! Final Score: 8/10

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This documentary is a MUST-see! Especially for school administrators and School Officers. They need to see how what they do has consequences.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

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Garrett Zevgetis

Director

Vivian Anderson

Self

Janae Davis

Self

Chico Colvard

Producer

Jeff Consiglio

Producer

Ariana Garfinkel

Producer

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On These Grounds: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

An explosive video goes viral, showing a white school resource officer in South Carolina pull a Black teenager from her school desk and throw her across the floor. An outraged nation divides over who is at fault and what role race played in the incident. Healer-Activist Vivian Anderson uproots her life in NYC and moves to South Carolina to help the girl and dismantle the system behind the "Assault at Spring Valley," including facing the police officer. To contextualize this incident, geographer Janae Davis treks the surrounding swamps to unearth the overgrown and neglected homes of formerly enslaved people of African descent, drawing a throughline connecting trauma from the past to present. Against the backdrop of a racial reckoning and its deep historical roots, one incident illuminates a persistent American power structure. Much like the nation at large, the arresting officer and the girl thrown from the desk have starkly different perspectives of what happened. Through intimate verite footage and extensive interviews with both, a hidden truth is unearthed about what actually happened that day. Throughout the film, select scholars, historians, and experts provide further context to the story, as well as an examination of race, school discipline, and police accountability.

Director: Garrett Zevgetis
Producer: Chico Colvard, Jeff Consiglio, Ariana Garfinkel
Distributor: Gravitas Ventures
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 24, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 24, 2021
Runtime: 1h 48m

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