Occasionally, we all have the pleasure of seeing a film that says what it's trying to say in a manner that leaves us speechless.  During the Denver Pan African Film Festival I saw such a film - "Hope's Choice."

 An urban drama, set in the mean streets of what could be any large city, it's power transcends it's African-American target audience and leaves viewers with a lesson they can't learn in any school.

The main character, Dante (Jocko Sims) is forced to make a decision which will ultimately affect his life and the people he loves.  Jocko's portrayal of the main character is the driving force behind the film, and he does it with an effectiveness that sucks you into the plotline.

Unlike other films in the genre, the writing is subtle and the story's point isn't "preachy" and forced.  The writer's (Jerry Whitfield) "less is more" approach stealthily sets us up for the unexpected ending.

In a nutshell, "Hope's Choice" shows the viewer that despite everything, we ALL ultimately decide which road we travel.

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

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The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

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Dante finds himself at a crossroad. Does he do what he feels is necessary to save the life of someone he loves, or does he hold fast to what he knows is right? Is doing WHAT YOU BELIEVE IS RIGHT the same as doing WHAT IS RIGHT? Or... is there truth to the old saying, "the road to hell is paved with good intentions?"

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Ruel Samuels, Garrett E.B. Thompson, and Jocko Sims in Hope's Choice (2004)

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