It is no secret that youth violence is a problem in Chicago. In 2010 alone there were 435 reported homicides; that amounts to more deaths than there are days in a year. “The Interrupters” sheds a light on this frightening epidemic.
“The Interrupters” examines the prevalence of violence in Chicago, but instead of simply rehashing statistics, the film explores an effective solution – The Ceasefire program. Ceasefire is an organization that stops the spread of violence by interfering in conflicts that would otherwise result in homicide. The organization employs ex convicts and former gang members as Violence Interrupters who are trained to persuade youth from committing the same violent acts they once were convicted of.
The film spans an entire year, from the summer of 2009 to the spring of 2010. It follows the lives of three Violence Interrupters – Ameena, Cobe, and Eddie – and the young people whose lives they desperately hope to save. Each of these Violence Interrupters has had an extremely violent path and paid high price for it. Each also regularly puts their lives in danger in an effort to stop at least one young person from throwing their life away.
The Ceasefire program intervened in roughly 700 conflicts in 2010 and reported a decrease in gun violence in 100% of the neighborhoods in which they had a presence. So although at times this gritty documentary can be heart wrenching and stomach turning, it is also hopeful and inspirational. Viewers will not walk away from “The Interrupters” feeling as though they have simply watched a film. They will feel as though they experienced a blueprint, a model for impacting change within demoralized communities.
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