75
Metascore
8 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 88The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Barry HertzThe Globe and Mail (Toronto)Barry HertzIt’s a sort of bad-luck situation most documentarians secretly dream of, but to their credit, For Ahkeem’s co-directors don’t exploit the situation, merely letting their cameras continue to capture Daje’s ever-dire situation.
- 88RogerEbert.comNick AllenRogerEbert.comNick AllenThere is a fascinating impulsiveness to the production of this story, especially as it essentially drops viewers into the world of Daje, and then has us follow her for months.
- 80The Hollywood ReporterDavid RooneyThe Hollywood ReporterDavid RooneyBy keeping a tight focus on the subject as she navigates senior year, early motherhood and the crushing stigma of negative expectations, the film assembles a poignant snapshot of black struggle that humanizes a range of social issues through the first-hand experiences of one young woman.
- 80Los Angeles TimesMichael RechtshaffenLos Angeles TimesMichael RechtshaffenA tenderly intimate, affecting documentary portrait.
- 75The Film StageJohn FinkThe Film StageJohn FinkAn illuminating film about poverty that one hopes can be a call for action even if the film itself doesn’t directly encourage advocacy, it’s clear that hashtags and temporary fixes aren’t enough to change Ahkeem’s life.
- The vicious-cycle narrative is familiar, but For Ahkeem comes uncomfortably close at times to crossing the line between shining a light on a problem and exploiting one, despite the filmmakers’ good intentions.
- 70Village VoiceDanny KingVillage VoiceDanny KingLevine and Van Soest (who are both white) deserve credit for eliding or treating obliquely a number of seemingly obvious narrative beats.
- 60The New York TimesBen KenigsbergThe New York TimesBen KenigsbergWhile the film ends at a logical stopping point, it feels incomplete. It probably could have used a few more years of filming.