An Oscar nominee for Best Documentary, Bing Liu’s 2018 POV-aired Minding the Gap follows three teen boys—who share a love of skateboarding and a history of abuse—into early adulthood. One is Liu himself, a young Chinese American filmmaker who along with his friends—Keire (black) and Zack (white)—skate the economically depressed streets of Rockford, IL, attempting tricks and generally goofing off, all captured on home video-style footage by Liu. This older material is intercut with contemporary footage of the three subjects still skating but also dealing with the challenges of jobs, relationships, and living independently.
As Liugradually reveals, the common theme that binds them is domestic abuse and absent fathers. Leaving home, Keire’s last words to his dad were “I hate you,” and this haunts him now that his father is dead. Liu was regularly beaten by his stepfather and as a result, became semi-estranged from his mother. Zack admits to receiving some whippings he feels he deserved as a kid and now may be delivering the same to Nina, his live-in girlfriend, and mother of their child.
Although Minding the Gap features some fun skateboarding scenes, it is not a skateboarding film per se. Skating binds the principals (one says “skateboarding is more of a family than my family”), bringing them moments of unadulterated joy as they struggle to navigate through life's challenges, but here it’s the intimate drama—Keire’s pain as he tries to locate his dad’s headstone in a cemetery on Father’s Day, Zack’s self-loathing rage and frustration fueled by alcohol, Liu’s shattering confrontation with his mother about his upbringing—that distinguishes this excellent documentary. Reminiscent of Woody Guthrie’s famous message written on his guitar, "This machine kills fascists," Keire’s skateboard reads, “This device cures heartache,” and even though it is more a case of “helps cope with” than “cures,” skating unquestionably aided these young men in surviving adolescence.
Extras include two audio commentaries (one by Liu; the other with Liu, Keire, and Zack), a socially-distanced follow-up conversation between Liu and Nina, an interview with skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, an interview with the filmmakers (Liu, executive producer Gordon Quinn, and producer Diane Quon), outtakes, Liu’s 2010 short film “Nuoc,” and a booklet with an essay by critic Jay Caspian Kang. Highly recommended.