SUPREMACY

US, 2014, 106 minutes, Colour.
Joe Anderson, Danny Glover, Dawn Olivieri, Derek Luke, Lela Rochon, Mahershala Ali, Julie Benz, Nick Chinlund, Anson Mount.
Directed by Deon Taylor.

Supremacy is based on actual criminals and events.

It is a disturbing picture of the ideology of white supremacists, their prejudices, absorbing aspects of neo-Nazi propaganda, a severe racist attitude towards African- Americans. The film has been made by an African- American director and received an award for its presentation of issues.

The film takes place over 24 hours with the release from prison of a man, Tully (Joe Anderson) who had been incarcerated for 15 years for armed robbery. In prison he had been influenced by a supremacist leader and found something that he could believe in, overcoming his poor self-image. He is fairly undereducated, puts his faith in the ideology, has a rough and brutal, foul-mouth attitude towards life.

When he gets out of prison he is picked up by an associate of the supremacists, Doreen (Dawn Olivieri) who has her own agenda, especially taking money to get back her child from social services. On the way to his parole officer’s meeting, he robs a store, rejects a sexual advance from Doreen because of ideological purity, but when the car is held up by a police officer, there is a tangle and he shoots the officer. The two then hide out in a home which belongs to an African- American family and they take them hostage.

Most of the action takes place in the house, especially the confrontation between Tally and the old man of the family, played with his usual dignity and vocal rasp by Danny Glover. He has had his own trouble with the law but advises patience, especially when the teenage son gets a knife and threatens violence. Also in the house is the old man’s wife, and a young woman with her little boy and baby. The old man is estranged from his police officer son (Derek Luke) who tries to make contact and is involved in the final confrontation.

The two on the run from the police go through a great deal of anxiety and some soul-searching leading to a rather unexpected non-violent ending.

The director of the film, African- American Deon Taylor, has given a good part of his career to making race-conscious films.


1. A story of white supremacists, their ideology, their actions, their targets, as dramatised with a black family? Black police officers?

2. The settings: prison, the open roads, shops, the street of the shooting, the house, interiors, exteriors, the town? The musical score?

3. The title, the picture of white supremacists, the neo-Nazi attitudes, tattoos and symbols, ideology? Vicious? Violent? Language and imagery?

4. The structure of the film, Tully getting out of prison, being picked up by Doreen, the drive, the shooting, taking refuge in the house, taking the hostages, the interactions, the confrontations, final decisions? The continued insertion of flashbacks elaborating on prison, Tully getting out of prison, interactions with Doreen, the hold-up in the shop, chased by the police officer, the confrontation, the killings, the witnesses rushing away? Further explanations of tallies mentality?

5. The character of Tully, the information about 15 years in jail, armed robbery? His assessment of himself, low self-image, meeting the supremacists, the leader in jail? His mouthing of principles throughout the film? Getting out, the encounter with Doreen, her sexual approach and his rejection, his comment about purity of leaders? The issue of the money, Doreen and her denials, later the discovery of the money, wanting it for her son? The talk, the shop, the hold-up and the fear of the checkout man? The attitude towards the policeman, fears, his surliness, not providing documents, claiming his rights, getting out of the car, the drawing of the gun, shooting the man, so many times? Taking refuge in the house, trying to make the phone call to the prison and asking for help? The supremacists not leaving their own?

6. The household? Mr Walker, Danny Glover’s screen presence? Age, experience, prison, not liking the police, the clashes with his son? His relationship with his wife, her challenging him? With the children? His advocating patience, agreeing with Tully, their being put in the closet? The uncertainties, his advising Anthony to be patient? His going to the toilet, talking with Tully, a certain empathy? The deal, buying supplies, taking Anthony to the hospital? The issue of solemn words – and Tully shooting Anthony? His going out in the car, the phone call from his son and his cutting it off? The return, his not knowing what his wife had done? The police following him? His care for the young woman and the baby, the boy, talking with the boy who wondered whether he was mad at him, not smiling? The final talk with Tully, Tully with the gun in his mouth, the old man urging him to think, choices, his going out with him and the hands up? Surviving?

7. Doreen, her background, losing her son, taking the drugs, the link with the supremacists, her own bigoted and racist remarks? Her concern about getting her son? Travelling with Tully, the sexual approach in his rejection? The shop? The shooting and her being agreeable with the police officer? In the house, variety of moods, taking the cocaine? Talking about shooting, yet hesitating? With the little boy in the discussion about food, her son? Her finally giving up, looking in the mirror, denial about the money, having it? Tully urging her not to go out? Going out with her hands up?

8. The people in house, the mother, caring, severe with the young woman and the children, concerned about Anthony, defying Tully, the phone call her driving to the hospital? Informing the police? The young woman, her children, her fears, brutalised by Tally, having to report anything to him, Anthony with the knife, the mother and her rebuking of the young woman? Her fears, concern about her son, the baby? In the closet, downstairs and confined?

9. The little boy, fears, at the table, the food, talking with Doreen? Anthony, impatient, his background, delivering pizza, wanting to attack, getting the cigarette lighter, pocketing the knife, taking Doreen as hostage, talked down? But Tully shooting him? Going to the hospital?

10. The police, the officer in charge, the searching, the helicopters, the lights? The old man and his son, hostility, the phone call and the old man cutting him off, his going to the door, his being reassured? At the end, the negotiations with Tully, the phone call to the prison? The reconciliation with his father?

11. Tully, the growing desperation, the phone call to the prison, his being abandoned by the supremacists chief, cut off, collapse, his gun in his mouth, the old man talking him down, giving himself up – and the information that he is on death row?