You are here:

Do Not Resist

Name: Do Not Resist
Director: Craig Atkinson
Released: 2017
Duration: 70 min

Representation Score

9.1/10

Excellent

2017

Not Rated

Director

Craig Atkinson

Runtime

70 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Do Not Resist is a powerful documentary that excels in its examination of racial justice and the systemic impact of militarized policing. By centering the Ferguson protests, it provides a multi-ethnic landscape of resistance that highlights the disproportionate effects of state power on underrepresented communities. The film's strength lies in its cultural critique, using post-colonial frameworks to challenge the legitimacy of domestic law enforcement. It successfully highlights the ability to act of female protesters during periods of intense civil strife. However, the film lacks specific, intentional representation for LGBTQ+ identities and individuals with disabilities. These elements appear only incidentally or through broad systemic critiques rather than through dedicated character arcs or central narrative themes.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Do Not Resist have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film focuses on broader societal changes in policing rather than specific LGBTQ narratives. It critiques state structures that assume everyone is straight, but it does not include explicit character arcs for LGBTQ individuals.

How does Do Not Resist portray gender?

Good

Women are shown as key players in political activism rather than passive observers. The film captures female protesters confronting militarized police forces directly.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Do Not Resist?

Excellent

A core strength is the emphasis on racial justice and the impact of policing on communities of color. The film centers the Ferguson unrest to highlight race and state power.

How does Do Not Resist represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The documentary critiques Western institutions and frames police militarization as state oppression. It challenges traditional patriotic narratives by treating domestic policing as an internal occupation.

Does Do Not Resist include disability representation?

Fair

Representation of disability is incidental to the footage of civil unrest. There is no intentional focus on neurodivergence or visible physical disabilities as narrative drivers.

Present on Screen

Strong focus on racial justice and the disproportionate impact of policing on communities of color.
Effective use of multi-ethnic perspectives to drive the central thesis of resistance.
Highlights the ability to act of women in high-stakes political activism.
Provides a deep critique of Western institutional authority and traditional patriotic narratives.

Limited or Absent

Lacks explicit LGBTQ+ character arcs or identity-driven storylines.
Does not provide an intentional or central focus on neurodivergence or physical disabilities.
Representation of certain underrepresented groups remains incidental to the broader footage of unrest.

Official Synopsis

Do Not Resist is an exploration of the rapid militarization of the police in the United States. Opening on startling on-the-scene footage in Ferguson, Missouri, the film then broadens its scope to present scenes from across the country.

How are these scores produced? →