Stonebreakers chronicles the conflicts about monuments that arose in the United States during the George Floyd protests and the 2020 presidential election. Weaving together observational sequences and interviews done across the country, the film explores the shifting landscapes of American monumentality. It focuses on controversial statues, including that of Christopher Columbus, as they are contested and removed, as well as considering neglected landmarks that communities decide to reclaim, and brings attention to new and emerging forms of memorialization. A portrait of a nation forced to reckon with the darkest chapters of its history, Stonebreakers interrogates the links between memory, myth, and political action.
Post-screening discussion led by Joseph Sciorra, John D. Calandra Italian American Institute, CUNY.