Popcorn With Peter Travers Season 10 Episode 85 Director John Ridley Talks His New Documentary 'Let It Fall'

In this episode of Popcorn with Peter Travers, the focus is on director John Ridley and his new documentary "Let It Fall." The film explores the events leading up to and following the 1992 Los Angeles riots, which were sparked by the acquittal of police officers in the beating of Rodney King.

Travers sits down with Ridley to discuss the making of the documentary, which took over a decade to come to fruition. Ridley shares his personal connection to the city of Los Angeles and how he felt compelled to tell this story. He also talks about the challenges of interviewing over 60 different people and weaving their stories together into a cohesive narrative.

Throughout the conversation, Ridley emphasizes the importance of understanding the complex factors that contributed to the riots, including systemic racism, poverty, and police brutality. He notes that while many people may only associate the riots with the violence and destruction that occurred, there were also moments of compassion and unity between different communities.

Travers and Ridley also discuss the current political climate and how the issues highlighted in the documentary are still relevant today. Ridley argues that it's important to recognize the history behind these issues in order to move forward and create change.

Overall, this episode offers an insightful and thought-provoking look at the making of "Let It Fall" and the impact of the 1992 Los Angeles riots on American history and culture.