Once in a while, a film based on fact emerges that one is hesitant to watch due to fears that the story has been exploited or underdone. But not this movie - John Boyega is incredible portraying Lance Corporal Brian Brown-Easley, a 33 year old Gulf War veteran. He gets treated so unfairly by those who were meant to support him with financial assistance and mental health support for PTSD once he returned home. In 2017, his only option was to take drastic action to be heard but ultimately to no avail, resulting in his untimely and very sad death.
I'd never come across this incident in the media before watching it, and some might say he should have realised it wouldn't end well due to implying he was carrying a bomb to blow up a bank with hostages still inside.
The bomb threat was proven to be untrue but Brian was already dead by then, and I totally understand the reasons why he chose this route to get people to listen. He had been engaging with a police negotiator at the time who felt a breakthrough was imminent, and the news of Brian's death was apparently a shock to that negotiator who was disgusted by the actions taken by law enforcement without first consulting with him.
This is one film I won't soon forget - it comes highly recommended by me.
RIP Brian, a courageous African American hero who only wanted fairness and respect, not infamy.