The Cave of Adullam

Synopsis

Director: Laura Checkoway
Producers: Laurence Fishburne, Helen Sugland, Roy Bank, Joe Plummer, Laura Checkoway, Jenifer Westphal
94 min, USA, 2022

At The Cave of Adullam, a martial arts academy for young people in Detroit, boys don’t just learn to defend themselves; they learn to grow up. In this tender and moving story of coming-of-age Black in America, Oscar-nominated filmmaker Laura Checkoway (Edith+Eddie) follows Jason Wilson, the empathic leader of the school who has had to overcome his own personal struggles, and four teenage boys as they fight to overcome their fears, heartache, and grappling on the mat. Because, as Jason says, “it's easier to raise boys than repair broken men,” the stakes are high for everyone involved. Winner of the Best Documentary Feature and Best Editing prizes at the Tribeca Film Festival, The Cave of Adullam is an emotionally involving “heartfelt [and] inspirational” (Screen) tale of the healing power of love.