Long Distance Revolutionary: A Journey with Mumia Abu-Jamal (2013)

I been following Mumia Abu Jamal's work for quite some time, I remember the first time I came across him on the net I was very excited I knew I found something and someone special after hearing a few of his speeches on-line. If you watch or read Mumia Abu Jamal's work you'll know very well he is a very eloquent man and is simply a man of integrity and liberty. I always look to him for opinion or analysis of Americas internal issues and find it a lot more logical and very clear compared to many mainstream sources today. I am very happy that a film like this is released for people to become aware of Mumia and realize he has been thrown/framed from the invisible to the physical prison because of the power behind his articulate words. This is a great film for those that want to know more of his personal life story full of struggle and sacrifices which either breaks or makes a man; indeed it has made Mumia more alive and free then many in the outside world today. This film depicts his life as a black panther and a journalist serving death-row to now life imprisonment. He writes and speaks on countless issues today receiving praise from many well known figures either of celebrity or academic status to even ordinary folks and if you want to know why then I recommend watching the film!

Most of what I would say about the great value of this film has been eloquently covered by earlier reviewers. I found that I got far more out of the documentary on the second viewing--the editing is tight, so almost every statement by the commentators gives the viewer/listener something to chew on, and, as a result, one can miss a few succeeding ideas while one is digesting any given idea. I'm confident that the documentary could easily bear a rewarding 3rd and 4th viewing. It's a real feast of stimulating insights, in other words.I think it would be wise for viewers who are completely new to the subject to learn a little about the facts of the case before seeing the documentary. The film's value lies in its focusing on the political factors influencing Mumia's development as an internationally influential revolutionary in the most powerful of all capitalist states. While one does not NEED detailed information on the chain of events leading to his frame-up and incarceration in order to appreciate the film, questions related to his legal situation are bound to arise for the uninitiated. There are fine documentaries and books that address the facts of the trial as argued by the defense and prosecution at length, but it should suffice a complete newcomer just to find a brief chronology of events and summary of political factors before seeing this particular documentary.The film is truly exceptional. Both the activist and the merely curious should embrace its unique contribution to our understanding of the world we live in and the need to resist the oppression that characterizes this epoch in history. Many, many thanks to the makers and producers of this wonderful documentary and, of course, to Mumia and MOVE!

Although i thought I knew a lot about the case of Mumia Abu-jamal, i knew that he was innocent. I knew that he was framed by the DA, mayor and the Philadelphia police department. I knew that his trial was a travesty with the judge a member of the FOP and quoted having made racist statements about Mumia. I knew that witnesses had been threatened and coerced. Like i said, I knew a lot. I knew he was innocent and that someone else even confessed to the crime. I learned a great deal about the man Mumia and not just the political figure. Mumia's brilliance and insight has flowered behind prison walls and through tremendous disadvantage. I thank the director, Stephen Vittoria for his sensitive work in taking on this controversial story. I have seen it in theaters and own the DVD.

The film presents the soul of Mumia against the backdrop of the city of brotherly love (Philadelphia) during a time of bigotry and violence against people of color. It examines how Mumia evolves into a warrior for justice rather than seeking to retry the crime in the media. It is a fascinating snapshot into an era that we think of being in the distant past and it is shocking to realize how close it still is. This is the story of a man who refuses to allow adversity to silence his voice. And it is the story of others who bear witness to his message. The message is especially relevant today with the emergence of racism in the form of voter rights acts that seek to once again suppress the voice of minorities. It is an absorbing story.... you really should see it.