Emanuel (film)

Emanuel is a 2019 documentary film directed by Brian Ivie (The Drop Box) about the Charleston church shooting that killed nine Emanuel AME church members in an act of terror. Stephen Curry and Viola Davis are executive producers ; Mariska Hargitay is a co-producer. The world premiere of Emanuel was in May 2018 at Geena Davis’ Bentonville Film Festival, where it won the Jury Prize for Best Documentary. The film also won the Heartland International Film Festival audience choice award. Emanuel’s limited theatrical release opens June 17, 2019—four years to the date after the shootings.

Synopsis
After a 21-year-old white supremacist opened fire during a prayer service in a Charleston, South Carolina church, nine African Americans were killed. Forty-eight hours later, the families of the Emanuel Nine stood in court facing the killer and offered words of forgiveness. Featuring interviews with survivors and family members, the documentary examines the history of race relations in Charleston, the significance and impact of Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, and the effect on the community from the offered forgiveness.

Production
When director Brian Ivie first heard of the Charleston church shooting, he knew it was a story he wanted to tell. But he also wanted to give the families time to heal. A year later, he began filming the movie in Charleston, with interviews conducted at Emanuel AME Church and the homes of victims’ families, among other locations.

Themes
Justice, faith, love, peace, hate, hope, faith, and forgiveness are key themes throughout the documentary.

Impact
The producers of Emanuel are donating their profits from the film to the survivors of the shooting and the families of the victims.