Time (2020)

Directed by: Garrett Bradley | 81 minutes | documentary, biography | Starring: Fox Rich, Rob Rich II, Laurence M. Rich, Mahlik Rich, Rob G. Rich, Freedom Fox Richardson, Justus Fox Richardson, Remington B. Richardson

Shreveport Louisiana, 1997. African-Americans Sibil and Robert dream of owning their own hip-hop clothing store. They dream and dream, but the money for the store just won’t come out. To make those dreams come true, the couple makes a bizarre decision. They rob a bank, guns and all, but are soon caught. Both will receive a 12-year settlement proposal. Sibil accepts the punishment, Robert does not. After 3.5 years, Sibil is released. Robert has to wait a little longer. He will be sentenced to 60 years in prison with no chance of parole.

In the American documentary ‘Time’ we follow Sibil, who now calls herself Fox, in her daily activities. We see her at work at a car dealership, at the graduation ceremony of one of her sons and as a motivational speaker at a typical American empowerment meeting. But above all we see Sibil in her quest to get her husband released earlier. A quest that mainly revolves around overcoming a slow-moving bureaucratic mill.

‘Time’ alternates arty with homemade, always in black and white. The here and now (in 2018) is shot in sleek, stylish images. These are interspersed with homemade films from the past 20 years. We see an energetic Fox, who raises her sons with a firm hand, continues her quest tirelessly and at the same time earns a living. We hear her complain about the American justice system, although she always speaks kindly and politely to the officials involved.

The greatest asset of ‘Time’ is Fox itself. Already in the first homemade film we see a beautiful, mediagenic woman. She always comes out with her words and has a good sense of humor (although the boys really make for a big smile). But also aesthetically this film is more than worth it. The atmospheric images and meditative music fit in well with the essayistic character of the film, which is more thoughtful than outspoken.

What does bother you a bit is the plaintive undertone. The 12-year prison sentence that both spouses are offered seems light rather than heavy for an armed bank robbery. You can hardly blame the authorities for Robert not accepting the punishment. That does not always make the victimization of this couple very convincing. Now it sometimes seems more like a movie about a catastrophic error of judgment than about a failing penal system. No matter how atmospheric, moving and wonderfully beautiful the film is.