THE FORCE

At the start of the gripping documentary THE FORCE, the Oakland Police Department (OPD) has been under federal oversight for over a decade and is working diligently to reform its policies and operations. Complicating matters is that the department is short-staffed and facing a community that’s growing frustrated with and resentful toward actions perceived to be indifferent. As relations between police and constituents grow even more contentious after a rash of officer-involved shootings, OPD then faces internal turmoil: accusations of sexual misconduct, a racist texting scandal, and the resignation of a staggering three police chiefs in just nine days. THE FORCE is a gritty microcosm of the racial and societal tensions plaguing cities and police forces across the U.S., and it doesn’t shy away from exposing the underlying issues causing this friction. Above all, the film illustrates that the divide between good intentions and actual implementation is often very wide—and trying to enact measurable change is a deeply flawed process that’s perpetually a work-in-progress. —A.Z.