Greenwood: A Dreamland Destroyed is a groundbreaking documentary that unveils the tragic history of the Greenwood Massacre, a violent attack on the prosperous black town of Greenwood, Oklahoma, in 1921. Directed by Brian Day and featuring choreography by Alycia Bright-Holland, the film employs an experimental approach, blending dance, poetry, music, and film to convey the harrowing events of this overlooked chapter in American history.
In just 18 hours, Greenwood was razed to the ground by a large, violent white mob, resulting in the loss of lives, homes, and businesses. Despite its significance, the massacre has been buried and ignored for a century, reflecting the systemic erasure of Black experiences in the United States.
Greenwood: A Dreamland Destroyed challenges this erasure, calling for equity and justice while honoring the resilience of the Greenwood community. Winner of the Best Documentary at the Indianapolis Black Documentary Film Festival and recognized at international film festivals, this 44-minute film offers a unique exploration of a dark chapter in American history.
Greenwood has a few notable issues, the most prominent being the feeling that this is two films mushed together instead of a single film with a single vision. While there are some attempts to blend the documentary and performance sections, it feels stilted and amateurish. This trend continues with the sound editing, which can be quite distracting at times as canned sound effects interrupt survivor's interviews or jump out of silence.
It’s frustrating because these two issues alone wouldn’t be a big deal if it didn’t feel like it detracted from both elements so much: I think developing this as a documentary with a performance attached would have solved these issues instead of bouncing between the two over the film’s runtime, and it would have been a bit longer too, more complete.
While the topic of Greenwood must be addressed when discussing the lasting impacts of white supremacy in America, Greenwood: A Dreamland Destroyed stumbles over its retelling of history, making it a poor choice for in-class showings. Strong Optional Purchase.
What kind of film series could use this title?
Greenwood: A Dreamland Destroyed would be an interesting pick for a series about black performers or documentaries about Jim Crow racism.
What kind of college instructors could use this title?
Professors teaching specifically about the Greenwood Massacre of 1921 would find potential classroom use in Greenwood: A Dreamland Destroyed.