‘Silver Dollar Road’ Prime Video Review - A Powerful Documentary About a Family’s Fight for Justice

Silver Dollar Road is a 2023 documentary film directed by Raoul Peck. It tells the story of the Reels family, a Black family in North Carolina who have been fighting for decades to keep their land from being taken by developers. The film is a powerful and moving account of racism, injustice, and resilience.

The Reels family's land has been in their family for generations, but in the 1980s, a developer named Adams Creek Associates claimed to have purchased the land from a previous owner. The Reels family disputed the sale, but the courts sided with Adams Creek Associates. The Reels brothers, Melvin and Licurtis, were even jailed for trespassing on their own land.

Silver Dollar Road follows the Reels family as they continue to fight for their land. The film also explores the broader issue of land theft and racism in the United States. The film opens with a scene of Melvin and Licurtis Reels sitting on their porch, overlooking their land. They talk about how their family has lived on the land for generations, and how they are determined to keep it.

The film then goes back in time to tell the story of the Reels family's land dispute with Adams Creek Associates. The film shows how the Reels family was denied access to their land, and how they were harassed and intimidated by the developers.

The film also shows how the Reels family was mistreated by the courts. In one scene, Melvin Reels is convicted of trespassing on his own land, and sentenced to eight years in prison. Despite all of the challenges they have faced, the Reels family has never given up on their fight for their land. The film ends with Melvin and Licurtis Reels still living on their land and determined to keep it in their family.

Silver Dollar Road is a powerful and moving film. It is a story of racism, injustice, and resilience. The film is beautifully shot and edited, and it features powerful performances from the Reels family.

One of the things that makes Silver Dollar Road so effective is its focus on the human cost of land theft. The film shows how the Reels family has been traumatized by the loss of their land. They have been denied access to their home, their livelihood, and their cultural heritage.

The film also does a good job of exploring the broader issue of land theft and racism in the United States. The film shows how Black people have been systematically dispossessed of their land for centuries.

One criticism of the film is that it does not provide enough context for the Reels family's land dispute. The film does not explain why Adams Creek Associates was so interested in the Reels family's land, or how the developers were able to get the courts to side with them. Another criticism of the film is that it is too focused on the Reels family's legal battle. The film does not spend enough time exploring the Reels family's culture and history.

Overall, Silver Dollar Road is a powerful and moving documentary. It is a story of racism, injustice, and resilience. The film is beautifully shot and edited, and it features powerful performances from the Reels family. However, the film could have been stronger if it had provided more context for the Reels family's land dispute and explored the Reels family's culture and history in more depth.

Silver Dollar Road is a must-see film for anyone who cares about social justice and racial equity. It is a powerful and moving story of a family's fight for their land and their dignity.

Final Score – [7/10]
Reviewed by - Arpita Mondal
Follow @ArpitaMond33387 on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times