Cops and Robbers is a thought-provoking short film directed by Arnon Manor and Timothy Ware-Hill. Released in 2020, the film explores the very topical subject of police brutality and institutionalized racism. The story takes place in a world designed in black and white, where the only colors are the blushing red of blood and the hints of brown on some of the characters' skin.
Timothy Ware-Hill, who co-directed the film, voices its protagonist, a Black man who describes the dangers of being a person of color in a society governed by a police force that has been taught to fear and harass them. Scenes of racial profiling, gun violence, and police brutality, as well as peaceful protests, punctuate the film. The lines between good and evil are blurred, leaving the audience to see the messier moral landscape of the ongoing fight for social justice and equality in America.
The film opens with Ware-Hill's character reminiscing about his childhood memories of playing cops and robbers, a game that the film uses as a metaphor for the power struggle between law enforcement and Black people. He initially creates the game to bring together White cops and characters, then reimagined it to reflect contemporary attitudes over the years.
Ware-Hill explores the symbolism of playing cops and robbers by appropriating the American Western aesthetic, with him donning a cowboy hat and denim jacket as he tries to dodge the bullets of the police. The film is accompanied by a unique soundtrack of violins and ambient sounds that grows suspense with each subsequent scene.
Cops and Robbers casts a clear light on the struggles of people of color in a world where police brutality is rampant. The film depicts the fear, anger, and visceral aftershocks of police violence, particularly as witnessed in the Black Lives Matter protests that took place across the United States in response to the homicide of George Floyd.
The cinematography is a work of art in its own right, capturing the film's visual aesthetics and underscored by a powerful voice-over narration that drives the story. It also highlights the impressively crafted animation that blends 2D and 3D elements to create an immersive viewing experience. The monochromatic world is devoid of color, save for the few pops of red blood in moments of violence, and the audience is swept up by the artistically styled imagery that alludes to the Black cultural heritage that the film talks about.
Interspersed throughout Cops and Robbers, are spoken word poetry segments that add a layer of social commentary to the production. They are a reflection of the emotions that many people of color feel when addressing issues of police brutality and racism, calling for reform, empathy, and accountability. Ware-Hill also utilizes poetic musings to frame the struggles of his character so that the audience can understand them more clearly.
The poetics make the work powerful and intense, with words that resonate through the heart and initiate conversations about race relations, police shootings, social justice, and cultural appropriation. Films like this one have become essential in empowering communities, promoting empathy, and broadening conversations about racial justice, police brutality, and Blackness. The outcry for equality and anti-racism transcends the mediums in which it is projected.
In conclusion, Cops and Robbers are a moving and poignant work that adds depth to the ongoing discourse on police brutality, institutionalized racism, and the Black experience in America. Its message is powerful, and the execution is artful, as it brings attention to a topic that should not be overlooked or ignored. Any future plans for Ware-Hill and Manor must be firmly based on their previous work, and it would be great to see more collaborations of this nature in the future.
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Cops and Robbers is a 2020 animated movie with a runtime of 6 minutes.
It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7.
