The Body Politic

*MICHIGAN PREMIERE*

The Body Politic

Like many areas in the United States, the City of Baltimore has been plagued by gun violence. Amid the George Floyd uprising, Brandon Scott, a young reform-minded leader, is elected mayor. Scott is elected amid the George Floyd uprising, and he introduces an ambitious public health-focused approach to violence reduction that he promises will lower the city’s murder rate. Pundits claim Brandon’s political health and the city’s health are tied to the number 348 – the total murders Baltimore had the previous year, more homicides than NYC, a city 15 times its size. After entering office and barely getting a chance to enact his first safety reforms, violence surges to new highs. As the media & political foes attack his holistic plan, he remains committed to his principles even as it puts his future as a politician in jeopardy. Throughout his first year in office, cameras continue to follow Brandon to see if his plan will work and lead to healing in Baltimore and maybe even reveal a path forward for the nation.

Prompted by his roommate, Ray’s sudden decision to move away, screenwriter Michal is faced with the bleak prospect of his own future, for maybe the first time. Unable to sleep, haunted by an unseen force in his closet, Michal turns his attention back to his story. Eventually going outside for a break, where he stumbles on a strange forest. Drawn to it, he traverses the cold forest, feeling the eyes of someone, something watching him. Resting under the largest tree in the forest, he wakes up and it’s close to dark. He returns home to find that Ray is gone and not picking up his phone either. He discovers his own doppelgänger living in his home, living his ideal life. Biding time, Michal checks his story to see if he can learn anything from it, eventually being forced to retreat into his closet, hiding from his Double. When Ray calls back, his Double answers and Michal watches himself catch up with his old friend. The Double then spots something in his closet, approaches it to find NO ONE in there. He ends the call with his old friend, expressing simply that he misses him. We then are back with Michal, waking up under the big tree, he goes home and we see him take the first steps into becoming that person he just witnessed himself.