I Am Judah, a cinematic documentary film about an Easton community elder ‘Ras’ Judah Adunbi.
Directed by Bashart Malik
Running time 70 mins
Rating 18
In 2017, police mistook Ras Judah for a crime suspect and was brutally tasered in the face while he was walking his dog. The officer who discharged the taser was found not guilty at criminal trial and in September 2018 was also cleared of misconduct.
If it wasn’t for Ras Judah Adunbi’s neighbour, Tom Cherry, we might never have known what really happened. Tom was there to record the incident on his phone in January 2017, so the story, capturing this moment, also begs questions about how we respect, even notice other people in a modern, diverse, multiracial city.
Millions watched the phone footage on mainstream news reports and over social media causing international outrage. He was tasered while standing up for his legal right to not give his name when stopped.
Ras Judah is a beloved and highly-respected elder in his community in Bristol. The whole community remains shocked and unsettled by how he was treated.
A twist to the story is that this was not the first or the last time that Ras Judah has been a victim of police harassment and violence and so-called ‘mistaken identity’. Ras Judah is determined to speak the uncensored truth of what has happened to him, not only for himself but for all the other victims of these types of injustices.
I am Judah will bring the full story to light of a man who throughout his life has had to fight.
- I Am Judah poem, written by Lawrence Hoo
This screening will be followed by a discussion with Ras Judah & Director Bashart Malik.
Cost: £8* (£5* student/under 25)
*Subject to a £1.50 ticketing system charge. Exeter Phoenix don’t charge this to make a profit. Find out more >>
Accessibility Statement: There is a steep slope from the street leading to the main entrance and a flight of stairs up to our front door. More level access is possible by approaching from Exeter Central Library on Castle street. Step-free access to the building is available via a ramped entrance on the side of the building. The side entrance is equipped with automatic doors.
All ground floor spaces are fully accessible with a mix of level flooring and gentle ramps. Level access to accessible toilets is available on all floors. Please ask Box Office for the radar key if needed. We have gender neutral toilets available in Studio 74 and on the first floor.
In the main auditorium and Studio 74 we have raked seating which has steps on either side. The seats have arms. Studio 74 Seat Dimensions; Seat: 17.5" Wide, 18.5" Long (Depth) Back: 19" Wide, 22" Long (Height). If you are a wheelchair user we have removable seats or approriate spaces available in all event spaces to accommodate this.GUIDE DOGS
Guide / Hearing / Assistance Dogs are welcome. If you wish to take your dog into the performance, please let us know when booking your ticket so that we can arrange an adjacent seat.
Patrons with disabilities may also bring a companion free of charge to all Exeter Phoenix promoted events, and most externally promoted events taking place in the venue. Please call 01392 667080 or email our box office team.
SUBTITLED SCREENINGS
A selection of our films are caption subtitled. Caption subtitling is a service that makes our film programme accessible to our d/Deaf and hearing-impaired customers by displaying additional auditory information on the screen. These can be found here. Our film programme also contains many films subtitled into English from other languages. These may also be suitable for our Deaf/deaf and hearing-impaired customers, but won't include additional descriptions of sounds. These can be found here.
AUDIO DESCRIBED SCREENINGS
Each season, an audio description track will be available for a selection of our films. Audio description is a service for partially sighted or blind people, and is similar to listening to a cricket or football match on the radio – the action is described to you. These can be found here.
SENSORY NOTES
The cafe bar plays low level recorded music during the day, with moderately bright lighting. During the evening in the cafe bar the music is louder and the lighting is lower. The cafe bar can become busy at various times which makes it louder.
Events in the auditorium vary depending on what is showing, there will be signage if there is going to be haze, flashing lights or strobe.
The building can be busy with musltiple events happening at the same time, if during your visit you feel you need a quieter space please ask the duty manager who will try to accomodate this where possible.