Mumia: Long Distance Revolutionary

This film avoids the well-trodden tale of Mumia's frame-up and the injustices done to him, and instead situates his life in the span of history he has lived through and addressed, from his childhood, through his young adulthood and early professional journalism, and on through his valiant efforts to stay connected and relevant to history and society despite his isolation on Death Row. Let's the facts speak for themselves on the cowardice of National "Public" Radio. The film features readings from Mumia's numerous books, audio of some of his commentaries, extensive interviews with people who "knew him when," including his sister, and some dramatizations of his relationships with his family, including a moving tribute to his mother, and a painful scene with his daughter, who is finally able to visit but prevented from touching him by a wall of glass. Well worth seeing more than once.

The overall rating for this documentary is not an accurate accounting. Unfortunately, those who wanted to keep Mumia on death row are always actively trying to discredit him. When they caught wind of the existence of IMDb (not surprising it took so long), the ratings abruptly dropped. They don't have the intelligence required to understand Mumia's case or his humanitarian activism but they are master manipulators.

If you have been following Mumia as I have since the early 1980s, you will love this movie.

If you are not familiar with Mumia and are a humanitarian, you will love this movie. Follow it up with "Justice on Trial: Mumia Abu-Jamal" and "Mumia Abu-Jamal: A Case for Reasonable Doubt?".

To understand the crass and cruel assumptions of those who defame him, watch "The Barrel of a Gun."

I thought the documentary would be a dry, factual restating of the case. I was wrong. It pulsed with life, in the words of Mumia Abu Jamal, and in the many people who spoke from their hearts about the man, his case, and his effect on their lives. I learned more about the hidden history of this country. worth seeing and sharing. The fact that anyone, especially someone convicted on such flimsy and suspect evidence has been left in solitary is obscene. The way that Mr. Abu Jamal has not only retained his humanity, but is using his words to reach out and make a positive change in the world, is a lesson for us all. I was fortunate enough to also hear from the director of this powerful documentary, and his journey to gain access, and to bring this story to the world, also should be noted.

Good and rare documentary of the life of a Black revolutionary and political prisoner. Also, a very good introduction to the situation of Mumia Abu-Jamal for those who aren't very familiar with it. The film traces Abu-Jamal's biography from his early years to becoming conscious of injustices of racist and capitalist society to membership in the Black Panther Party to his later career as a radio journalist (and both radio and print journalist in jail). At the same time the movie doesn't go much into Abu-Jamal's case inasmuch as other movies have already done that. The work is well put-together technically. Is makes creative use of actors and actresses for roles for which there isn't (and can't be) any footage. Some of those roles, however, are over-acted. A number of academics and literary and other 'names' comment on his life and case. However, the film overly relies on this sort of celebrity testimony as opposed to that from voices of the grassroots. Well worth seeing.

Because of Mumia Abu-Jamal's honesty and integrity, not to mention his gift of communicating through the medium of writing and broadcast journalism, this film is crucial is bringing information to the world audience of his humble beginnings and his consistent search for truth and justice.

Since I've known him since the early days of WRTI in Philly and have been an ardent fan of his for many years, I can attest to the film's accuracy and historical validity. Great job done for a great cause. Mumia Abu-Jamal must be set free.

Much respect, staajabu