New Years Eve 2008, the final day in the life of twenty-two year old Oscar Grant III (Michael B. Jordan) who was shot and killed by a police officer in the early hours of New Years Day 2009. 

Before Ryan Coogler brought to our screens the power house films of Creed and Black Panther his debut feature was this intimate insight into the final day of a young man and father. 

Fruitvale Station opens with footage taken of the shooting from a mobile telephone before taking us back to the beginning of the day. From there we follow Oscar as he struggles with finances, meets people and spends time with his girlfriend Sophina (Melanie Diaz) and four year old daughter Tatiana (Ariana Neal). Over the course of the films 85 minute running time Coogler and Jordan successfully connect us to this young flawed man who has his whole life ahead of him which makes the final moments so much more powerful. The images of a police officer with his knee on the neck of a black man feel even more powerful this year after the murder of George Floyd and I have to admit to being overwhelmed with emotion at the closure of the film. 

Coogler and Jordan have proven themselves to being a powerful pairing in film and it is well worth your time to seek out their first feature together.