A welcome antidote to the horrors we’re witnessing in the
news, Amanda Lipitz’s documentary, “Step,” is a
spirited crowd-pleaser that will thankfully leave you feeling just a little bit
better about the world.
But before
it lifts us up, “Step” sets the stage with some sobering scenes of turmoil,
opening with footage of the protests and riots that rocked Baltimore following
the death of Freddie Gray while in police custody. While those protests aren’t
the focus here, the students we follow are thoroughly affected by them, and Lipitz makes sure that the fundamental issues raised by the
Black Lives Matter movement remain in the back of our minds throughout the
film.
Training her
cameras on the members of the Lethal Ladies step team at the Baltimore
Leadership School for Young Women — a charter school with a mission to ensure
every one of its student moves on to college — the filmmaker offers a different
look at African-American inner-city communities. Lipitz
tackles issues of poverty and what it means to be a young black woman in
America today, but handles it in a way that’s filled with humor, heart, and
unadulterated joy.
In case
you’re unfamiliar: step is a group dance involving choreographed rhythmic
claps, stomps, shouts, and chants. It’s helpful to have at least a vague idea
what the dance is, as Lipitz doesn’t devote much time
(or any, really) to explaining its origin or the rules of competition. We follow
the Lethal Ladies during their preparations for the Bowie State step
competition, an event the team has never been able to place in before. Though
the film has its share of lively dance scenes, “Step” is about the team
members’ lives and plans for the future more than it is about the actual
competition.
The
documentary narrows its focus slightly to follow three graduating seniors on
the team as they prepare to make their next steps (no pun intended) after high
school. There’s founding member Blessin Giraldo, who’s learning that years of letting her studies take
a backseat to a social life have put her at a disadvantage when it comes time
for college applications. She’s determined to set a new course for herself, but
she’ll need help to do it. An additional hurdle comes from the fact that her
mother suffers from depression and anger issues, and though she tries, isn’t
always there for her daughter.
A
self-proclaimed introvert, Cori Grainger has her eye on being named class
valedictorian and is aiming to get into Johns Hopkins University with a full
scholarship to study programming. Living with her mother, stepfather, and five
siblings, Cori has a loving home life. Her attentive parents do everything to
make sure their children succeed, but they still struggle to pay the bills. One
of the documentary’s most heartbreaking scenes comes as a devastated Cori sits
on the front steps of her home and weeps when the power is shut off after her
stepfather loses his job. Lipitz remains cognizant of
the ways that growing up poor and black can turn everyday stresses into
seemingly insurmountable odds.
Tayla Solomon is the only child of a single mother, Maisha, who’s become an unofficial den mother to the group.
Though Maisha’s helicoptering ways are sometimes a
source of embarrassment, she’s fiercely protective of her daughter, keeping her
on the right track when outside elements (namely boys) threaten to distract
her.
As we learn
each of these girls’ stories, Lipitz invites the
viewer to become invested in their future and root for them to succeed. Under
the guidance of new coach Gari McIntyre, the step
team provides the girls with an outlet for the struggles and frustrations they
face. The film is a potent demonstration of the truth in the idea that it takes
a village: each girl’s journey is truly a team effort, as their teachers,
coaches, counselors, and parents are in constant communication.
There’s a
good reason “Step” earned a US Documentary Special Jury Award for
“Inspirational Filmmaking” at Sundance this year. It’s empowering, joyful
filmmaking, showing us a group of bright, strong young women and reminding us
that even when things seem tough, there’s always hope for a brighter tomorrow.
“Step” will
debut at The Little Theatre as part of The Black Cinema Series, co-presented by
the Rochester Association of Black Journalists. There will be a panel
discussion after the 7 p.m. showing on Friday, August 18.
Check back on Friday for additional film coverage, including a review of the comedy, “Brigsby Bear.”
This article appears in Aug 16-22, 2017.
