Minding the Gap

Name: Minding the Gap
Genre: Documentary
Released: August 17, 2018
Duration: 93 min
Rating: 89
Cast: Bing Liu, Kiere Johnson, Zack Mulligan

2018

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 28 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 53 Ratings

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8.0

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8.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 53 Ratings

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Minding The Gap

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Movie Details & Credits

Magnolia Pictures | Release Date: August 17, 2018 | Not Rated

Starring: Bing Liu, Kiere Johnson, Zack Mulligan

Summary: Welcome to Rockford, Illinois, in the heart of Rust-Belt America, home to debut filmmaker Bing Liu. With over 12 years of footage, Bing discovers connections between two of his skateboarder friends' volatile upbringings and the complexities of modern-day masculinity. As the film unfolds, Bing captures 23-year-old Zack’s tumultuousWelcome to Rockford, Illinois, in the heart of Rust-Belt America, home to debut filmmaker Bing Liu. With over 12 years of footage, Bing discovers connections between two of his skateboarder friends' volatile upbringings and the complexities of modern-day masculinity. As the film unfolds, Bing captures 23-year-old Zack’s tumultuous relationship with his girlfriend deteriorate after the birth of their son and 17-year-old Keire struggling with his racial identity as he faces new responsibilities following the death of his father. While navigating a difficult relationship between his camera and his friends, Bing weaves a story of generational forgiveness while exploring the precarious gap between childhood and adulthood.… Expand

Director: Bing Liu

Genre(s): Documentary

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 93 min

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Critic Reviews

100

A.O. Scott

Aug 16, 2018

Minding the Gap is more than a celebration of skateboarding as a sport and a subculture. With infinite sensitivity, Mr. Liu delves into some of the most painful and intimate details of his friends’ lives and his own, and then layers his observations into a rich, devastating essay on race, class and manhood in 21st-century America. Read full review

100

Richard Brody

Aug 18, 2018

Minding the Gap is a personal documentary of the highest sort, in which the film’s necessity to the filmmaker—and its obstacles, its resistances, its emotional and moral demands on him—are part of its very existence. Read full review

100

Liam Lacey

Oct 1, 2018

While this is an autobiographical story about a young aspiring filmmaker and his skateboarding crew, it also speaks volumes about contemporary rust-belt USA, masculinity and abuse, weaving its themes and characters around scenes of the boys sailing through the near-empty streets. Read full review

Bilge Ebiri

Jul 13, 2018

The film is filled with lengthy, sensuous skateboarding scenes, which feel meditative, therapeutic; we sense that these kids skated not because it was fun, but because it helped them to survive. Read full review

Robert Abele

Aug 16, 2018

Minding the Gap, which is brilliantly edited by Liu and Joshua Altman, has a floating, grab-bag style that collapses the time frame into a kind of momentum-driven arc, but while the pieces are often bite-sized, and not always delineated by a year or person’s age, the collage has a distinctive chronological feel. Read full review

Hanna Flint

Feb 14, 2022

Featuring some brilliant camerawork by Liu and the late Dylan Sakiyama, Minding the Gap is an impressive feature that provides an intimate and grounded examination of racism, violence, manhood and economic anxiety in the US. It will warm your heart but possibly break it a little too. Read full review

The Guardian Peter Bradshaw

Mar 20, 2019

This is a fluent, watchable piece of work, though not quite as lucid as it might have been. A poignant tribute, at any rate, to the lost innocence of skateboarding. Read full review

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User Reviews

FelicityFenwick

Aug 19, 2018

Incredible movie. I went in as a fan of King of the Road and skate culture in general, thinking it would be a light-hearted doc touching on the lives of some skaters. But WOW. What a powerhouse of a film that deftly handles some super serious topics. Major props to Bing Liu - hisIncredible movie. I went in as a fan of King of the Road and skate culture in general, thinking it would be a light-hearted doc touching on the lives of some skaters. But WOW. What a powerhouse of a film that deftly handles some super serious topics. Major props to Bing Liu - his conversation with his mother is beautiful and heartbreaking. If there's any justice, this will be a Best Picture nom come early next year. A Must-See indeed.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

LamontRaymond

Aug 17, 2018

One of the most pleasant surprises of 2018. What starts out seemingly like a skate-culture doc turns into a heart-felt and powerful meditation on abuse among families. All three main characters are extremely sympathetic. The way it all comes together - the way it invites you into theOne of the most pleasant surprises of 2018. What starts out seemingly like a skate-culture doc turns into a heart-felt and powerful meditation on abuse among families. All three main characters are extremely sympathetic. The way it all comes together - the way it invites you into the thesis - and how the filmmaker explains to his subjects what the doc is truly about - is masterful.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

MarcDoyle

Aug 17, 2018

Simply a beautiful film. Serious kudos to the documentarian - who is also a major subject of the film - for carefully following his subjects for at least 4 or 5 years to weave an important tale of abuse within families. There are triumphs of the spirit among the stories of tragic beginnings.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Slovenly_Muse

Feb 24, 2019

A tender and nuanced, though loosely-woven, examination of a group of friends, their love of skateboarding, and their struggle to break the cycles of violence and poverty that have shaped their lives.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

GrantD243

Jan 4, 2019

It comes off as a little aimless at first, but this documentary about some skaters really starts to take shape after the first 20 minutes or so. It's extremely personal and heartfelt, and by the end you'll find yourself more invested in the story than you probably ever thought you would be.It comes off as a little aimless at first, but this documentary about some skaters really starts to take shape after the first 20 minutes or so. It's extremely personal and heartfelt, and by the end you'll find yourself more invested in the story than you probably ever thought you would be. Really an excellent documentary.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

amheretojudge

Jan 23, 2019

Skate Away And Roll Away.

Minding The Gap Liu's documentary on a diverse group of people that are connected with one heart pumping passion is not only an essential eye opening subject to explore upon but is also a gripping and compelling family drama. As far as the clips of all theSkate Away And Roll Away.

Minding The Gap

Liu's documentary on a diverse group of people that are connected with one heart pumping passion is not only an essential eye opening subject to explore upon but is also a gripping and compelling family drama. As far as the clips of all the skateboard stunts are concerned, there is no need to look back. But one of the main reason why they work so smoothly on narration, is when the makers need a visual medium while someone is narrating, these clips help immensely for them to link all the parallel tracks perfectly. Divided into three tracks and three lives, the one that connects you with majorly is Johnson's or at least it did to me.

Since his track does not stand exceptionally alone, one can connect on multiple level with his life. On the other hand, the truly dramatic or cinematic of all, is of Liu's which is so sharp and powerfully executed that the emotions may rumble you down to tears. And the rest of the space is taken by Johnson who has his own dodgy issues where the other related to him too gets to factor in effectively, a fair and balanced trial put on by the maker.

Another primary reason it speaks more to the common people, is because they keep them grounded as much as possible, despite of having an exceptional life, the tiny details on their routines and light and breezy equation with someone, is how they easily get under your skin. Liu; the director, himself has done a splendid work on foliating the drama that they went through, it can be really difficult to project your own story with such conviction especially without any manipulation or milking too much of the material. Minding The Gap is the most balanced documentary possible, it sticks by its job, the genre never overtakes the content and the drama communicates with you.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JordanLayton

Apr 30, 2020

Touching story that this documentarian was able to weave between the experience of himself and two of his friends AND tie it to skateboarding. Painfully realistic throughout its runtime, except for the ending which I have a hard time believing, but maybe I'm too cynical. Recommended from me,Touching story that this documentarian was able to weave between the experience of himself and two of his friends AND tie it to skateboarding. Painfully realistic throughout its runtime, except for the ending which I have a hard time believing, but maybe I'm too cynical. Recommended from me, especially if you're into skateboarding.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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