The 92nd Academy Award nominations were announced this morning, and St. Louisans will recognize a familiar title among the five Documentary (Short Subject) nominees (whittled down from 96 films). St. Louis Superman, a documentary from MTV Documentary Films, features prominent Ferguson activist and battle rapper Bruce Franks Jr., who served as state House representative of the 78th District for two terms. (Franks resigned last spring and was succeeded by 25-year-old Rasheen Aldridge, who was sworn in on January 8.)
Directed by Smriti Mundhra and Sami Khan and produced by Meralta Films, the half-hour film depicts Franks' experiences with mental trauma after losing loved ones to gun violence, including his 9-year-old brother who was shot and killed in front of him. The piece chronicles his efforts to create change through legislation.
As the film describes him, Franks is "a political figure the likes of which you've never seen—full of contradictions and deep insights, who has overcome unspeakable loss to become one of the most dynamic and unapologetic young leaders in the country."
Franks has already voiced his excitement via Twitter:
With much of St. Louis echoing his sentiment:
