Common Sense Media Review
By Jose Solis
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Vibrant docu about famous festival; language, violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
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Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
What's the Story?
In FREAKNIK: THE WILDEST PARTY NEVER TOLD, director P. Frank Williams explores how a local tradition became one of the most important celebrations of Black culture in the United States. In 1982, a group of college students attending HCUs who stayed in Atlanta during spring break decided to throw a picnic for their peers. Over the year, the party grew. Set in a time before social media and smartphones, the documentary compiles stories and interviews told by the people who created Freaknik and by the artists whose work either began at the festival or who have been highly influenced by its cultural effect.
Is It Any Good?
This documentary chronicles how a small picnic transformed into an epic cultural event that helped shape a generation of Black artists and influenced culture in unforeseen ways. Initially, the documentary focuses on how Freaknik started (the name came from the Le Chic song) and director P. Frank Williams fills the film with historical footage and in-depth interviews with the people who lived through the original experience.
The second part of the film gives a critical look at how this celebration of Black joy transformed into something where violence toward women and sexual abuse thrived, making it the rare kind of film that provides a holistic point of view, rather than imposing preconceived ideas. Listening to people discuss how women were oversexualized by attendants during the festival while comparing the media's coverage of Freaknik to White spring break celebrations where negative behavior isn't analyzed, is how a filmmaker should deliver truth. More than a documentary about a party, this is a powerful film about the different worlds inhabited by Black and White people in the United States, and how slow progress and equity continue to move.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Talk to your kids about how the original purpose of Freaknik, as discussed by its founders in Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told, changed throughout the years. Why is it important to acknowledge when good ideas can lead to not-so-good consequences?
The documentary celebrates the joys of Black music and expresses the importance of community. What are some things you love the most about your community?
The film shows how the media talked about Freaknik and White spring break celebrations. What were some of the differences you noticed?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: March 12, 2024
- Cast: Andre Benjamin , CeeLo Green , Jermaine Dupri
- Director: P. Frank Williams
- Inclusion Information: Black actors
- Studio: Hulu
- Genre: Documentary
- Character Strengths: Integrity , Teamwork
- Run time: 88 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: July 29, 2024
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