the first step
synopsis
In a divided America, progressive activist and political commentator Van Jones controversially works across party lines on landmark criminal justice reform and a more humane response to the addiction crisis. Attempting to be a bridge builder in a time of extreme polarization takes Van and a coalition of unlikely allies deep into the inner workings of a divisive administration, internal debates within both parties, and the lives of frontline activists fighting for their communities.
CREDITS
Directed by
Brandon Kramer
Produced by
Lance Kramer
Produced by
Meridian Hill Pictures
Magic Lab Media
Edited by
Natasha Livia Mottola,
Steven J. Golliday,
Sara Fusco,
Leslie Simmer
Released: 2021
Runtime: 90min
reviews
"Personal...compelling...human"
- New York Times
“Captures something rare in documentaries: the messy business of finding bipartisan solutions in a hyper-polarized country.”
- Los Angeles Times
“A wide-ranging and thoughtful documentary.”
- The Guardian
accolades
Tribeca Film Festival
Official Selection
AFI DOCS
Official Selection
Denver Film Festival
Official Selection
impact
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