For almost 10 years of my life I have lived in New York, and I must say that as a filmmaker that means that you will inevitably cross paths with the NYPD. It never was a pleasant experience or one which left me with anything less than a feeling of absolute impotence in the face of enormous power. As a Colombian, I must say that the only times I have felt like that back home was when faced with forces that were powerful enough to hurt you and have no consequences, just that in New York it was worse because it was the law. This made stories like that of Eric Garner and so many other African Americans feel so close to home, victims of police brutality and of an inefficient justice system that failed them when refusing to successfully prosecute perpetrators of excess deadly force. In countless other cases when the line was crossed the “Blue wall of silence”, or the dark tradition of covering up for fellow officers misdeeds, sprung up and avoided the truth ever reaching the public. This has been a subject I have felt very strongly about, as an artist and as a citizen of this city, and one which I had always wanted to make a film about. Now America has taken a new turn in the Trump era, and Latino’s have become the target of the system, being labeled as rapists and criminals, bringing a new level of xenophobia to the table. One which many times expresses itself between the already assimilated Latino communities of the US and those still migrating in. In the film I wanted to explore what it means for old resentments from back home to face off again in America, where in many cases the tables of power have turned. Privilege and wealth in Latin America don’t mean anything to the authorities in the US, and when arrogance and historic resentments clash anything can happen. In Wolf at the Door I chose to explore a different take on the affliction of police brutality, narrating the story of three different police officers who believe in the job and have devoted their lives to it, but who find themselves victims of their own personal weaknesses. Their abuse of power lead to a crime from which there is no turning back, and it exposes how each of them feel about justice, morality and survival. For Noah, the protagonist, the dilemma of having betray his morals and the historical injustices done to his people, or turning on his new “family”, makes for his story be a heartbreaking one we can all relate to.
The space will be used as the main setting of the story, developing the narrative almost solely confined to it. Because the whole film happens in one space it is essential that the space represents the themes and supports the actions portrayed on the film.
Peerspace is on a mission to bring people together. We believe it is impossible to achieve that goal unless we also fight for equality and access to resources in the communities we serve.
Having a space to gather, create, and exchange ideas is an important part of any movement. In order to magnify voices that are often quieted, Peerspace will sponsor venues for people who challenge prejudice and fight for social justice and equality.
Each quarter, we will sponsor space for three projects that are relevant to our community. These projects can range from fundraisers and educational initiatives to art exhibits and photo series.
