Five documentaries, each coming from a slightly different perspective, delve into the civil unrest that began in Los Angeles 25 years ago on April 29, 1992, following the verdict by a Simi Valley jury that found four Los Angeles police officers not guilty in the beating of Rodney King.
Here are the official trailers for all five:
1. LA 92 – National Geographic
2. The Lost Tapes: LA Riots – Smithsonian Channel
3. Burn Motherf*cker, Burn! A Film by Sacha Jenkins – Showtime
4. L.A. Burning: The Riots 25 Years Later – A&E
5. Let It Fall: Los Angeles 1982-1992 – ABC News for theatrical release
EDITOR’S NOTE: WLA Assistant Editor Taylor Walker saw the Tribeca Film Festival premiere of NatGeo’s LA 92, which is an immersive documentary constructed only from archival footage, radio broadcasts, and photographs, and recommends it.
George Holliday, a selfless soul armed with a videocam exposed LAPD to the whole world. Priceless.
A great read with records and facts would be the book “Lying Eyes” by former LAPD Officer and Author Tom Owens. Truly worth reading.
I have yet to see any film on the King riot that was accurate. Generally all are just justifications for the violence and failed LE and city leadership in LA County.