To Be Heard

Invited

In the Bronx, the hustle and bustle of street life can drown out voices and desires. To Be Heard follows three high school students—Pearl, Karina, and Anthony—who enroll in a poetry class called Power Writing that changes their lives. With inspired teachers who help their students to vent their frustrations and use language as an instrument of empowerment, they become determined to overcome the harsh obstacles that lie before them. Calling themselves the “tripod,” they vow to support one another’s goals to graduate from high school and make it to college. As they become accomplished in the art of slam poetry, we see ambitious and confident artists emerge, intent not only on surviving but on thriving. Although reality intervenes, throwing all of us a sobering curveball, it is clear that hardships now serve to ignite their creativity. The slam poetry sequences are galvanizing, a powerful example of the transformative nature of art.  RM

Directors

Roland Legiardi-Laura, Edwin Martinez, Deborah Shaffer, Amy Sultan

Producers

Roland Legiardi-Laura, Edwin Martinez, Deborah Shaffer, Amy Sultan

Editor

Edwin Martinez

Cinematographer

Edwin Martinez

Release Year

2010

Festival Year

2011

Country

United States

Run Time

87 minutes