The Holly

This must-see documentary is a riveting, unforgettable look at the heartbreak and corruption, entrenched pathologies and dueling interests that enable the cycle of violence in one urban Denver neighborhood to roll on and on. The plot twists and danger, stubborn hope and cynicism in play, the world weariness of people who doggedly continue to try to improve things anyway (often at great risk for their safety), illustrate why problems are so deep rooted and change is elusive. Terrance Roberts has put himself at the intersection of all of it - a maelstrom of gang members, police informants, neighborhood kingpins, developers and the local cops and prosecutors.

I got to see "The Holly" recently in Los Angeles and was blown away. It was a riveting , thought provoking and inspiring movie that I highly recommend people check out. No spoilers here, but there were a few twists I did not see coming. Terrence Roberts as well as Julian Rubenstein (the Director) truly inspired me with the journey they have been though for so many years. This movie takes you along their wild ride and the journey that they both went on and it will not dissapoint. This film is an Academy Award contender for sure. I am telling everyone I know to go watch this film! A powerful, riveting story that I am glad was told!

I lived in denver in the 80s so I was curious what this was about since I never heard of this area or 'the holly'. And what it's about, I still don't know as I couldn't threw the whole film w/o tapping out. Sure, I heard of the bloods and crypts and the latin kings and so on and I remember the 80s but just because you grow up poor doesn't mean you join a gang or turn activist and raise money or start a program. Don't have a clue where that comes from. The scene where they interview these young black men on the street. They're not like anyone I ever met in denver or anyone else but they're definitely young men I wouldn't hire to mow my lawn either. You can't live the gang life and expect you get rewarded with a white collar career and they're not products of their neighborhoods but products of themselves and brain washing by the media. Same goes for anyone claiming to be an activist. The road to h is paved with good intentions. I didn't get to the gentrification part but that's part of capitalism. When I lived in dc, I was frequently taking a subway at potomac ave and I saw gentrification first hand. At night, looks like some scary urban street scene from a scorsese film. During the day, look close because the people with money moving into these brownstones and turning them over have the best doors. You won't see them in the neighborhood like shopping or anything but you can tell by the door it's secure and expensive and baricaded behind there are people with money. And they're not all white like the media makes them out to be and they are not tearing down the neighborhood; they don't want to be part of the neighborhood but they want is a box they can afford that belongs to them and nobody else. American home ownership and making money is what it's all about. With all that the black power movement every spouted, what did they ever do to advance that for black people or even reduce black on black crime.

This film is very profound and is an eye opener for what's happening to our youth in Denver. I'm proud to see Terrance Roberts is running for mayor. It's time for real leadership and change in this city and me and my family are supporting his campaign.

Hopefully now we can talk about what youth of color are going through in America. Terrance Roberts has been fighting for justice for decades and now he can fight for justice as the next Mayor of Denver. There should be a reality show around his campaign as we speak, someone in Hollywood is dropping the ball and missing out on historical content.

The documentary is well done, informative, and covers topics that have that have been permeating in not only Denver, but various cities around the country. Through it's storytelling, it provides the deeper look into how greed and gentrification goals have made way for corruption, violence, and negative political influence to thrive in the area.

It dares the audience to consider how some of what's happening in the Holly neighborhood may be happening in other historically black neighborhoods throughout the country.

If you haven't seen this film already, you need to watch it. It's an absolute must see!