Minneapolis is a 3-minute political film by David Anderson. The short shoes the street of Minneapolis, moments before the jury decides the verdict on Chauvin’s trial, possibly deciding the fate of the United States, in terms of police accountability.

In this film, shots of the streets of Minneapolis are alternating with actual footage of the news broadcasting live from the front of the courthouse, ringed by razor wire and guarded by soldiers. Outside of the courthouse protestors are standing, waiting for the verdict.

Meanwhile, a middle-aged white man is walking around in a city that looks almost frozen, capturing its beauty and taking advantage of its almost complete emptiness. The man is looking, remembering, and grasping the last views of Minneapolis before everything possibly changes.

The city of Minneapolis is very well represented, as we can feel the nostalgia of the man thinking about what would happen to the city in case Chauvin is acquitted. 

But the connection with the black community is lacking. What would in fact be those consequences, for a middle-aged white man in case Chauvin is found not guilty? For this reason, those nice pensive and reflective shots of the city are left with very little context. It’s difficult for the audience to make a connection between Chauvin’s trial and the main character — except for both sharing the same city.

The best achievement of this film is the sense of expectation that it creates. Time is suspended. Everything is still, which, shot with a handheld camera, creates a nice contrast in the image.

A well-edited film that definitely makes us reflect on a piece of history so crucial for the USA and for the world.