14 Homicides

director: Jona Gerlach

original title: 14 Homicides

year: 2015

running time: 34 min.

synopsis

The state of Utah has very broad definitions of when a police officer can use a weapon on duty. Last year, 14 controversial deaths were caused by the police. This documentary, based on traditional film structure, is made up of 14 two-minute static shots of the crime scenes. The soundtrack consists of recited texts made up of interrogation reports and the responses of people close to the victims. The objective communication sharply contrasts with the tragic incidents. The fixed camera view becomes a sad reminder of a fatal incident which paradoxically most authorities consider to be justified.

DETAIL:
An attorney for the Hunt family says they don't believe Darian attacked officers with the toy sword. He also stated that he was a harmless and innocent young man who was drawn into an incident provoked by the police.

biography

Jona Gerlach, a writer and filmmaker, received his bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Utah and recently began studying media arts at the University of Montana. Here he wants to focus primarily on the creation of experimental and documentary films. 14 Homicides is his directorial debut in which he combines some of the elements of avant-garde film with the starkness of realism.

more about film

director:	Jona Gerlach
producer:	Talena Sanders
editing:	Jona Gerlach

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