Tupac: Resurrection

The documentary tells Tupac Shakur's life in his own voice. There is no narrator; the film is built entirely on audio assembled from interviews he gave over the years, arranged as if he were speaking now. Lauren Lazin directs. His family took part and his mother Afeni Shakur is among the producers. The narrative begins in childhood: his mother was a Black Panther and was in prison while pregnant. Then the arts school in Baltimore, the move to California, work with a dance group and the first album. What it shows is a fast rise and a dissolution at the same speed: court cases, a prison sentence, being shot, a change of label and the east and west feud. The archive is extensive; home video, stage footage, courthouse steps and television programmes are used. It was nominated for the Academy Award for documentary feature. Its limit is its source; the narrative rests entirely on his own account and the accusations against him are passed through his statements. There is no opposing view. His death is not explained; the case was never closed and the film offers no conclusion. Who it is for: viewers who follow the history of hip hop and music documentary. Who it is not for: it is single voiced, there is no critical distance, and some periods are skipped.