The Knockturnal
  • Home
  • Entertainment
    • Events Film The Kontenders Theater TV All
      Entertainment

      Sugar Rush: A Safe, Open-Air, Family-Friendly Confectionary Adventure Unveiled In SoCal

      April 5, 2021

      Events

      24K Goldn and Geojam team up to celebrate the release of “El Dorado”

      April 2, 2021

      Entertainment

      TBS Brings Wipeout’s Big Balls EXPERIENTIAL ACTIVATION to Santa Monica Pier

      April 2, 2021

      Entertainment

      Highlights From The 26th Annual Critics Choice Awards

      March 9, 2021

      Film

      Exclusive: Stars Lily-Rose Depp, Tye Sheridan, Fionn Whitehead & Director Neil Burger Talk…

      April 6, 2021

      Film

      Film Review: ‘Nobody’

      April 3, 2021

      Film

      Film Review: ‘The Man Who Sold His Skin’ Tunisia’s Nomination For International Feature

      April 3, 2021

      Film

      A Preview of the Outfest Fusion Festival

      March 30, 2021

      The Kontenders

      Film Review: ‘The Man Who Sold His Skin’ Tunisia’s Nomination For International Feature

      April 3, 2021

      The Kontenders

      Film Review: ‘The Father’ Boldly Tackles A Parent-Child Relationship Facing Dementia

      February 25, 2021

      The Kontenders

      Film Review: ‘The World To Come’ Is A Romantic Period Piece

      February 11, 2021

      The Kontenders

      Film Review: The Honest Beauty and Humanity of ‘Minari’

      February 9, 2021

      Theater

      Highlights From The 3rd Annual Celebration of Black Cinema

      February 6, 2021

      Theater

      Sing Your Hallelujah: Review

      December 15, 2020

      Theater

      Exclusive: Nikki Lynette Talks “Get Out Alive” and Using Her Past as Inspiration…

      December 15, 2020

      Theater

      Company XIV Brings Burlesque Right To Your Home

      December 10, 2020

      TV

      Exclusive: Little Marvin and Cast Talk ‘THEM’ [Video]

      April 9, 2021

      TV

      Exclusive: Kendall Kyndall Talks Hosting ALLBLK’s ‘Social Society’ [Video]

      April 9, 2021

      TV

      Exclusive: Lex Scott Davis Discusses Starring in New ABC Series ‘Rebel’ [Video]

      April 8, 2021

      TV

      Exclusive: Cast Talks Starring In HBO’s New Show ‘The Nevers’ [Video]

      April 7, 2021

      Entertainment

      Exclusive: Desmond Chiam Talks Falcon and The Winter Soldier

      April 10, 2021

      Entertainment

      Exclusive: Little Marvin and Cast Talk ‘THEM’ [Video]

      April 9, 2021

      Entertainment

      Exclusive: Kendall Kyndall Talks Hosting ALLBLK’s ‘Social Society’ [Video]

      April 9, 2021

      Entertainment

      Exclusive: Lex Scott Davis Discusses Starring in New ABC Series ‘Rebel’ [Video]

      April 8, 2021

  • Music
    • Koncerts News All
      Koncerts

      Exclusive: Common Kicks Band Discusses Music Scene in New York City & COVID-19…

      February 23, 2021

      Koncerts

      Melanie Martinez Shines at Virtual Concert Event

      December 21, 2020

      Koncerts

      Big Beat Virtual Showcase: Elderbrook x WHIPPED CREAM

      April 17, 2020

      Koncerts

      On The Scene: Dermot Kennedy Sold-Out Show at Radio City Music Hall

      March 24, 2020

      News

      New Music Roundup: Releases You May Have Missed

      April 2, 2021

      News

      New Music Roundup: Releases You May Have Missed

      March 15, 2021

      News

      We Can Be Heroes Star, Haley Reinhart Talks New EP and Future Acting…

      March 13, 2021

      News

      New Music Roundup: Releases You May Have Missed

      March 2, 2021

      Music

      Exclusive: Rapper Dreezy on New Music, New Beginnings, and Celebration With CÎROC

      April 7, 2021

      Music

      24K Goldn and Geojam team up to celebrate the release of “El Dorado”

      April 2, 2021

      Music

      New Music Roundup: Releases You May Have Missed

      April 2, 2021

      Music

      Hyro The Hero Previews New Mixtape: Kids Against the Monsters

      April 2, 2021

  • Lifestyle
    • Art Events Fashion & Beauty Sports All
      Art

      Katie Chonacas discusses ‘A Lover’s Fairytale’ Book Release

      March 17, 2021

      Art

      Exclusive: Jordan “Love Watts” Watson Talks Partnership with Diddy & Ciroc for #CIROCStands…

      March 2, 2021

      Art

      HBO Presents Original Documentary and Conversation ‘Black Art: In the Absence of Light’

      February 10, 2021

      Art

      Exclusive: Tommy Alastra Discusses Cryptograph & Jason Momoa Auction

      December 11, 2020

      Events

      Palm Beach International Boat Show Brings Bliss to Weekend

      March 30, 2021

      Events

      Pizza Girl Relaunch Dinner Hosted by Founder Caroline D’Amore in the Hollywood Hills…

      March 11, 2021

      Events

      Exclusive: Michelin Star Chef Dani Garcia Talks Taste of sbe Virtual Culinary Event

      December 17, 2020

      Events

      On The Scene: First Annual Interactive and Immersive Drive Thru Holiday Experience ‘WonderLAnd’

      November 30, 2020

      Fashion & Beauty

      Review: Take Your Pick with Dollar Shave Club’s 6 Blade vs 4 Blade…

      March 31, 2021

      Fashion & Beauty

      If You Love Clean Beauty, Alaffia Should Be On Your Radar

      March 7, 2021

      Fashion & Beauty

      NYFW: Flying Solo Brings International Style to Soho

      February 28, 2021

      Fashion & Beauty

      NYFW:Rebecca Minkoff Continues To Amaze With Her SS21 Collection

      February 25, 2021

      Sports

      Film Review: ‘Embattled’ Has Heart, Grit, & Family All in One Fight

      November 16, 2020

      Sports

      Exclusive: Stephen Dorff talks New Film ‘Embattled’ [Video]

      November 16, 2020

      Sports

      The Weeknd to Headline Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime Show

      November 12, 2020

      Sports

      Exclusive: All Elite Wrestling Superstars Britt Baker & Sonny Kiss Celebrate the One…

      October 11, 2020

      Lifestyle

      Accomplishing Goals: Motivation vs. Discipline

      April 6, 2021

      Lifestyle

      Chicas in Beverly Grove Dishes Out Devastatingly-Good Tacos with Flare to Spare

      April 6, 2021

      Lifestyle

      The KnockturnaList: Editor’s Picks 2021

      April 5, 2021

      Lifestyle

      Exclusive: Styles P and Adjua Styles Promotes Health and Wellness Initiatives [Video]

      April 3, 2021

  • News
  • Videos
  • Covers
  • Merch
The Knockturnal
  • Home
  • Entertainment
    • Events Film The Kontenders Theater TV All
      Entertainment

      Sugar Rush: A Safe, Open-Air, Family-Friendly Confectionary Adventure Unveiled In SoCal

      April 5, 2021

      Events

      24K Goldn and Geojam team up to celebrate the release of “El Dorado”

      April 2, 2021

      Entertainment

      TBS Brings Wipeout’s Big Balls EXPERIENTIAL ACTIVATION to Santa Monica Pier

      April 2, 2021

      Entertainment

      Highlights From The 26th Annual Critics Choice Awards

      March 9, 2021

      Film

      Exclusive: Stars Lily-Rose Depp, Tye Sheridan, Fionn Whitehead & Director Neil Burger Talk…

      April 6, 2021

      Film

      Film Review: ‘Nobody’

      April 3, 2021

      Film

      Film Review: ‘The Man Who Sold His Skin’ Tunisia’s Nomination For International Feature

      April 3, 2021

      Film

      A Preview of the Outfest Fusion Festival

      March 30, 2021

      The Kontenders

      Film Review: ‘The Man Who Sold His Skin’ Tunisia’s Nomination For International Feature

      April 3, 2021

      The Kontenders

      Film Review: ‘The Father’ Boldly Tackles A Parent-Child Relationship Facing Dementia

      February 25, 2021

      The Kontenders

      Film Review: ‘The World To Come’ Is A Romantic Period Piece

      February 11, 2021

      The Kontenders

      Film Review: The Honest Beauty and Humanity of ‘Minari’

      February 9, 2021

      Theater

      Highlights From The 3rd Annual Celebration of Black Cinema

      February 6, 2021

      Theater

      Sing Your Hallelujah: Review

      December 15, 2020

      Theater

      Exclusive: Nikki Lynette Talks “Get Out Alive” and Using Her Past as Inspiration…

      December 15, 2020

      Theater

      Company XIV Brings Burlesque Right To Your Home

      December 10, 2020

      TV

      Exclusive: Little Marvin and Cast Talk ‘THEM’ [Video]

      April 9, 2021

      TV

      Exclusive: Kendall Kyndall Talks Hosting ALLBLK’s ‘Social Society’ [Video]

      April 9, 2021

      TV

      Exclusive: Lex Scott Davis Discusses Starring in New ABC Series ‘Rebel’ [Video]

      April 8, 2021

      TV

      Exclusive: Cast Talks Starring In HBO’s New Show ‘The Nevers’ [Video]

      April 7, 2021

      Entertainment

      Exclusive: Desmond Chiam Talks Falcon and The Winter Soldier

      April 10, 2021

      Entertainment

      Exclusive: Little Marvin and Cast Talk ‘THEM’ [Video]

      April 9, 2021

      Entertainment

      Exclusive: Kendall Kyndall Talks Hosting ALLBLK’s ‘Social Society’ [Video]

      April 9, 2021

      Entertainment

      Exclusive: Lex Scott Davis Discusses Starring in New ABC Series ‘Rebel’ [Video]

      April 8, 2021

  • Music
    • Koncerts News All
      Koncerts

      Exclusive: Common Kicks Band Discusses Music Scene in New York City & COVID-19…

      February 23, 2021

      Koncerts

      Melanie Martinez Shines at Virtual Concert Event

      December 21, 2020

      Koncerts

      Big Beat Virtual Showcase: Elderbrook x WHIPPED CREAM

      April 17, 2020

      Koncerts

      On The Scene: Dermot Kennedy Sold-Out Show at Radio City Music Hall

      March 24, 2020

      News

      New Music Roundup: Releases You May Have Missed

      April 2, 2021

      News

      New Music Roundup: Releases You May Have Missed

      March 15, 2021

      News

      We Can Be Heroes Star, Haley Reinhart Talks New EP and Future Acting…

      March 13, 2021

      News

      New Music Roundup: Releases You May Have Missed

      March 2, 2021

      Music

      Exclusive: Rapper Dreezy on New Music, New Beginnings, and Celebration With CÎROC

      April 7, 2021

      Music

      24K Goldn and Geojam team up to celebrate the release of “El Dorado”

      April 2, 2021

      Music

      New Music Roundup: Releases You May Have Missed

      April 2, 2021

      Music

      Hyro The Hero Previews New Mixtape: Kids Against the Monsters

      April 2, 2021

  • Lifestyle
    • Art Events Fashion & Beauty Sports All
      Art

      Katie Chonacas discusses ‘A Lover’s Fairytale’ Book Release

      March 17, 2021

      Art

      Exclusive: Jordan “Love Watts” Watson Talks Partnership with Diddy & Ciroc for #CIROCStands…

      March 2, 2021

      Art

      HBO Presents Original Documentary and Conversation ‘Black Art: In the Absence of Light’

      February 10, 2021

      Art

      Exclusive: Tommy Alastra Discusses Cryptograph & Jason Momoa Auction

      December 11, 2020

      Events

      Palm Beach International Boat Show Brings Bliss to Weekend

      March 30, 2021

      Events

      Pizza Girl Relaunch Dinner Hosted by Founder Caroline D’Amore in the Hollywood Hills…

      March 11, 2021

      Events

      Exclusive: Michelin Star Chef Dani Garcia Talks Taste of sbe Virtual Culinary Event

      December 17, 2020

      Events

      On The Scene: First Annual Interactive and Immersive Drive Thru Holiday Experience ‘WonderLAnd’

      November 30, 2020

      Fashion & Beauty

      Review: Take Your Pick with Dollar Shave Club’s 6 Blade vs 4 Blade…

      March 31, 2021

      Fashion & Beauty

      If You Love Clean Beauty, Alaffia Should Be On Your Radar

      March 7, 2021

      Fashion & Beauty

      NYFW: Flying Solo Brings International Style to Soho

      February 28, 2021

      Fashion & Beauty

      NYFW:Rebecca Minkoff Continues To Amaze With Her SS21 Collection

      February 25, 2021

      Sports

      Film Review: ‘Embattled’ Has Heart, Grit, & Family All in One Fight

      November 16, 2020

      Sports

      Exclusive: Stephen Dorff talks New Film ‘Embattled’ [Video]

      November 16, 2020

      Sports

      The Weeknd to Headline Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime Show

      November 12, 2020

      Sports

      Exclusive: All Elite Wrestling Superstars Britt Baker & Sonny Kiss Celebrate the One…

      October 11, 2020

      Lifestyle

      Accomplishing Goals: Motivation vs. Discipline

      April 6, 2021

      Lifestyle

      Chicas in Beverly Grove Dishes Out Devastatingly-Good Tacos with Flare to Spare

      April 6, 2021

      Lifestyle

      The KnockturnaList: Editor’s Picks 2021

      April 5, 2021

      Lifestyle

      Exclusive: Styles P and Adjua Styles Promotes Health and Wellness Initiatives [Video]

      April 3, 2021

  • News
  • Videos
  • Covers
  • Merch
EntertainmentFilmThe Latest

Tribeca Film Festival Review: ’17 Blocks’

by Rachel Lipkin May 4, 2019
by Rachel Lipkin May 4, 2019 0 comment

Name a politically-charged issue, and the Sanford family has endured it all. Yet somehow, the charming family managed to emerge stronger and even more stoic than ever before in Davy Rothbart’s 20-years-in-the-making documentary, ‘17 Blocks’, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival.

17 Blocks was given its title in reference to the distance between the U.S. Capital and the rough Washington D.C. neighborhood the Sanfords resided in. Although the distance is not far, the two are practically parallel universes.

The documentary, which came together initially on accident, began when director Davy Rothbart met two sweet kids on a public basketball court in 1999. Smurf and Emmanuel Sanford, fifteen and nine years old at the time, became good friends with Rothbart. When young Emmanuel took interest in Rothbart’s filmmaking pursuits, Rothbart lent him his video camera and Emmanuel went to town on recording his brother, sister Denice, and mother Cheryl over a variety of years.

The old, raw footage gives audiences direct insight into the tight-knit family dealing with the harsh realities of their impoverished, drug-using and violent neighborhood. The sweetness of the family paints a familiar portrait of the struggle many African-American families living in an urban disaster-zone face, and the cycle many find themselves in that only a few are able to stray away from.

Emmanuel, clear from a young age and into his late teenage years, made it very clear that he had no interest in partaking in this violent, unforgiving cycle. The family lost their father to violence at an early age, and Cheryl, haunted by a traumatizing past, turned to drugs, along with her live-in boyfriend Joe. But Emmanuel, a charming and adorable young introvert, decided that he wanted to focus on graduating with impressive grades, marrying his girlfriend, Carmen, and fulfilling his dreams to become a firefighter.

But Emmanuel’s brother, Smurf, couldn’t see such a future for himself at the time. Instead, he found himself wanting to dropout of school and focus on dealing drugs in order to keep up with his finances, and eventually, to provide for his newborns.

Living under the same roof as their sister Denice, tragedy struck the family when a robbery turned murder took the life of one of the family members, sending the some of the remaining relatives in a downward spiral. After years of processing their grief and finding themselves at an odds with law enforcement and the criminal justice system, the Sanfords manage to break their own cycle and exemplify a hopeful future for families in poor neighborhoods that struggle to escape drug abuse and gun violence. This positivity and optimistic chapter in the Sanford’s story is furthered as we’re introduced to 9-year-old Justin, who similar to his uncle Emmanuel, has a spark for creativity and learning in his glistening, sweet eyes.

This heartbreaking, yet awe-inspiring story left me astonished that so much could happen to one family. At times throughout, I kept having to look back at the program to remind myself that this was a documentary and not a narrative film. 17 Blocks deals wraps in a much-needed conversation around gun-violence, drug abuse, the need for mental health services and therapy to be normalized and more accessible for tough neighborhoods, sexual assault, and the current climate of the criminal justice system.

The film leaves us with a hair-raising credit roll of homicide victims that passed away due to gun-violence from the last decade. The visual appeared to be more than enough to surpass the plethora names found on some war memorial sights and serves as a reminder that the United States’ internal war is more common and deadly than one might initially believe.

17 BlocksDavy RothbartDocumentaryTribecaTribeca 2019Tribeca Film FestivalTribeca Film Festival 2019
0 comment
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Avatar
Rachel Lipkin

previous post
Turning Lemons Into Lemonade: TidalxLemonade Event
next post
Tribeca Film Festival Exclusive: Marsha Stephanie Blake Talks ‘Luce’ & More

Related Posts

Exclusive: Desmond Chiam Talks Falcon and The Winter...

April 10, 2021

Exclusive: Little Marvin and Cast Talk ‘THEM’ [Video]

April 9, 2021

Exclusive: Kendall Kyndall Talks Hosting ALLBLK’s ‘Social Society’...

April 9, 2021

Exclusive: Lex Scott Davis Discusses Starring in New...

April 8, 2021

Exclusive: Cast Talks Starring In HBO’s New Show...

April 7, 2021

Exclusive: Rapper Dreezy on New Music, New Beginnings,...

April 7, 2021

Accomplishing Goals: Motivation vs. Discipline

April 6, 2021

Chicas in Beverly Grove Dishes Out Devastatingly-Good Tacos...

April 6, 2021

Exclusive: Stars Lily-Rose Depp, Tye Sheridan, Fionn Whitehead...

April 6, 2021

Exclusive: Comedian Maeve Press Talks Season Two Of...

April 5, 2021

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

 

Digital Cover No. 13

The Knockturnal Merch

Follow Us On The Gram

We talked to the stellar cast of @themonprime. The We talked to the stellar cast of @themonprime. They’re all so lovely and talented, be sure to binge the show. It’s out today! Interview by @tolliv3r.
@kattinsley sits down with @scottyeye to discuss h @kattinsley sits down with @scottyeye to discuss her hometown of Baltimore, performing, and the new show @rebelabc #lexscottdavis #rebelabc #rebelseries
What is it like to #audition for one of the most a What is it like to #audition for one of the most anticipated new television shows in 2021? It’s top secret! Ask @rochelleneil! Video 1 of our #TheNevers series is live now on TheKnockturnal.com! @nevershbo
𝘝𝘖𝘠𝘈𝘎𝘌𝘙𝘚 starring 𝐋𝐢 𝘝𝘖𝘠𝘈𝘎𝘌𝘙𝘚 starring 𝐋𝐢𝐥𝐲-𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐩, 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐧 𝐅a𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐥, 𝐓𝐲𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐧 & 𝐅𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐧 𝗪𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 is a new sci-fi thriller written & directed by 𝐍𝐞𝐢𝐥 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐫 (The Divergent Series, The Illusionist, Limitless) Watch the cast & Neil talk all about the filming process 🎬 - 𝘓𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘉𝘪𝘰⁣⁣
⁣
#neilburger #voyagers #lionsgate #lilyrosedepp #lilyrose #johnnydepp #tyesheridan #colinfarrell #fionnwhitehead #scifi ⁣
NEW! @nasimpedrad spoke to @kinseyschofield about NEW! @nasimpedrad spoke to @kinseyschofield about #WhoIsChad on @tbsnetwork. Watch #Chad April 6th! Full interview at TheKnockturnal.com! Link in bio. #nasimpedrad #snl
@cynthywu and @therealshantel give us the behind-t @cynthywu and @therealshantel give us the behind-the-scenes scoop on @forallmankind_ on @appletv! ⚾️📸 

Full interview at TheKnockturnal.com! 

#forallmankind #cynthywu #shantelvansanten
Follow on Instagram

About The Site

We are a collective of creative tastemakers made up of fashion, music and entertainment industry insiders. It’s all about access. You want it. We have it.

Terms Of Use

Privacy Policy

Meet The Team

CONTACT US

For general inquiries and more info on The Knockturnal, please contact our staff at:
info@theknockturnal.com
fashion@theknockturnal.com
advertising@theknockturnal.com
editorial@theknockturnal.com
beauty@theknockturnal.com

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Youtube

© Copyright - The Knockturnal | Developed by CI Design + Media