'Cycle'

On this episode, Dori welcomes some very special guests to talk about a very important film: Cycle.

More than five years in the making, Cycle takes an unflinching look at the patterns behind police violence in America through the story of Ty’rese West, an 18-year-old from Racine who was shot and killed by Mount Pleasant police officer Eric Giese in 2019 after being stopped for riding a bicycle without a headlight.

Joining the podcast to talk about their film — and their deep connections to it — are directors Laura Dyan Kezman and William Howell, both of whom are from Racine. Uniquely Milwaukee host Kim Shine also sits in for this one as the quartet talk about:

• Howell's personal connection to West's family and the Racine community, which helped build trust for the deeply personal footage in the film.
• The challenging process of obtaining public information from authorities.
• How the death of George Floyd in 2020 reframed their work.
• Who holds power in the criminal justice system, particularly the District Attorney.
• The challenges of and potential for filmmaking in Wisconsin.
• The hope that "Cycle" serves as a catalyst and inspires viewers to push social justice forward.

Cinebuds is sponsored by Joe Wilde Co.