On February 10, 2015, UNC students Deah Barakat, his wife Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha, and her sister Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha were eating dinner in their home in Chapel Hill, North Carolina when they were killed by their neighbor Craig Hicks. The chilling crime was captured by Deah on his cell phone, a 36-second video played before the court at Hick’s trial. 36 Seconds: Portrait of a Hate Crime seeks to examine and record the experiences of the family and their struggle to get state and federal assistance in trying this obvious crime of hate as a hate crime.
I hated the sporadic use of true crime stylings to tell this story. I understand that such things are trendy right now, but as a whole, it is jarring to jump from these emotional retellings of the family’s experiences straight into images of an actress dramatically screaming in agony in a staged shot, especially since these moments seem tacked on. It felt disrespectful. It felt inauthentic. Likewise, the inclusion of Hasan Minhaj and Margaret Talbot as an attempt to add clout felt similarly misplaced: I was far more interested in hearing law experts and the family discuss the challenges of getting the justice system to treat the senseless, premeditated triple homicide as a hate crime, not media folks discussing the impacts of Twitter posts.
With that out of the way, we can discuss what 36 Seconds does really well, and that’s examining the near impossibility of having a hate crime tried as such under the law as it exists. This is not a new problem, but it has essentially flown under the radar for decades. To try a violent crime as a hate crime in the United States, the perpetrator has to announce in public that they are committing a hate crime. It’s ridiculous. The onus of proof shouldn’t be on the families of those senselessly murdered, and the federal government should do something about it now. Library patrons interested in learning about the 2015 Chapel Hill murders, American Islamophobia, or hate crimes in the US will be very pleased with this film. Highly Recommended.
Where does this documentary belong on public library shelves?
36 Seconds: Portrait of a Hate Crime should be placed on the law and crime documentary shelves in a public library due to its in-depth exploration of the legal and societal challenges surrounding hate crimes. The documentary examines a specific case in which a violent act was not easily classified as a hate crime under current legal standards, making it relevant to readers interested in criminal justice, legal studies, and civil rights. Additionally, the film delves into the complexities of the U.S. legal system, making it a valuable resource for those studying law and the challenges faced by families seeking justice for hate-motivated crimes. While it also touches on broader social issues such as Islamophobia, the primary focus on the legal struggles in this particular case justifies its placement within the crime documentary section. It could also fit into pop culture documentary collections due to its contemporary, socially relevant subject matter, but its primary fit is with law and crime.
What kind of film series could use this title?
36 Seconds would serve as an excellent headliner for a film series about Islamophobia and hate in America. The documentary provides an insightful, personal look at the impact of religious and racial prejudice, particularly against Muslims, which makes it an ideal piece for a series exploring the rise of hate crimes in the U.S. and their broader societal implications. Such a series could also delve into the legal battles surrounding hate crimes, offering a critical examination of how the justice system responds to crimes motivated by bigotry. By including 36 Seconds, the series would provide a compelling, emotionally charged entry that highlights the struggles of marginalized communities and the need for reform in how hate crimes are recognized and prosecuted in the United States.