The Tribeca Film Festival is back in full swing in 2022 with a jam-packed selection of films, documentaries, shorts, talks, gaming spotlights and more for both in-person and virtual viewing until June 19.
Last year the iconic film festival saw itself limited to primarily outdoor screenings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this year the pageantry returned to the Big Apple’s theaters with movies such as The Cave of Adullam, which had its world premiere on June 13 at the Village East by Angelika, previously known as Village East Cinema.
The Cave of Adullam deals with content that deeply resonates with many of the issues countless advocates in New York City have been battling–mental wellness and support for marginalized communities.
This Black and African American diaspora documentary focuses on a martial arts academy in Detroit run by Jason Wilson, who places an emphasis on his students’ wellbeing over their athletic abilities. Wilson serves more as a wise sensei guiding at-risk youth through their journey in life with the mantra from Frederick Douglass, “It’s easier to raise boys than repair broken men.”
Utilizing the disciplines of martial arts, Wilson cultivates a sense of stability, emotional intelligence, and overall guidance to steer these young Black teens to a healthy and more whole future.
Directed by Oscar-nominated documentarian Laura Checkoway, she focuses her lens on the profound effect Wilson’s teachings have and the emotional struggles the teens are facing. Additionally, the documentary underscores masculine vulnerability. Executive producer of the film and renowned actor Laurence Fishburne, spoke to amNewYork Metro on the red carpet regarding the feature’s take on mental wellness
“There’s a lot of different modalities that people are investigating and exploring their terms of mental health and wellness and what I like to call mental wellness as opposed to mental health issues. So, this film kind of deals with another modality in terms of gathering these boys and giving them some instruction, discipline, some tools, some practical things that they can do to nurture themselves and look after themselves,” Fishburne said.
Fishburne also shared his excitement to be in person at Tribeca to showcase this feature, and while the pandemic is not fully over, he is grateful to be a part of the film festival and New York City’s comeback.
“It’s really nice to be out at an event like this. This is a really wonderful film. I think it’s good to touch people. It’s great to be doing it here in New York. We’re grateful to the Tribeca Film Festival and they’re committed their selection committee for choosing us. You know, we hope that a lot of people see it and enjoy it,” Fishburne told amNewYork Metro.
