In the opening of The Cave Of Adullam, one of the martial arts academy students, Emmanuel, is called in front of his classmates to test for his Faith stone. With an audience of peers and attentive parents holding up cell phone cameras to capture the young boy’s performance on this test, he’s asked “what is faith,” and he begins to rattle off his rehearsed definition. But he gets tripped up, forgetting the last few words.

It’s a devastating moment for Emmanuel, but instead of being met with frustration and disgruntlement, his teacher appeals to a part of Emmanuel’s life that motivates him. After a short chat, Emmanuel tries again. And this time, he recites the definition all the way through. “When I started the cave, I thought black boys needed discipline,” Sharath Jason Wilson explains in narration. “I realized quickly they didn’t need more discipline. They needed more love.”

This is the foundation that both “The Cave”, as this academy is known for short, and the documentary itself build their premise on how to better understand a more responsible approach to guide Black boys towards being productive members of society. Though martial arts might seem like an aggressive space, Wilson’s approach to training young Black boys is only in part about physical defense, but more actively about spiritual defense and learning how to conduct oneself in the face of anger. Furthermore, teachings extend even beyond defense, like how to present oneself in public (for instance, instilling the notion of durags being at-home hair care accessories as opposed to out-and-about fashion) even down to life skills like how to properly place silverware on a dining table.

Documentarian Laura Checkoway has unearthed a tender and inspiring story in her presentation about The Cave and the students that participate with it. With the producing assistance of Laurence Fishburne, The Cave Of Adullam places a much needed spotlight on the positive story about urban life in Detroit in a film that depicts how much good can come from a place that genuinely cares about the well-rounded development of boys in an underserved community.

The Cave Of Adullam follows the lives of four students of this martial arts academy: Tamarkus, Gabe, Daniel, and Kevin. Tamarkus is a 13 year old student whose mother has not played an active role in his life since the age of 2, but is now having another child - a change that Tamarkus is trying to understand his feelings about. Gabe, a 17 year old student, struggles with his perception of his father, who has been unfortunately absent from his life, primarily because of his ongoing prison sentence. Daniel, 14, recently lost his father and has to learn how to deal with emotions he has not fully come to terms with. And Kevin, 13, has behavioral issues causing him to perform poorly in school.

These boys deal with issues that many young Black boys like themselves in their community do not have the support to properly manage. And this is why Sharath Jason Wilson has made it his mission to train these students with a level of care that is rare in this community. Yes, The Cave is a school for learning self defense, but what this documentary captures and demonstrates at this academy is the significance of addressing the roots of problems Black boys have to deal with to create real change.

Though Checkoway’s documentaries are well made and topical productions, but The Cave Of Adullam is a welcomed step in the evolution of her filmmaking career. More style is incorporated into this production than Checkoway’s previous films. Footage is treated in a more theatrical tone, with much more depth of field in the cinematography; The Cave Of Adullam is a cinematic presentation - both topically and stylistically - that is worthy of the big screen.

But The Cave Of Adullam is not just about sharing information and generating awareness on a particular subject - in this case, that subject being this space curating the growth and development of young boys. It’s multiple levels of storytelling, exploring the intricacies of the lives of these boys; their successes, their setbacks, their support systems, and their personal struggles. There is a depth to the stories in The Cave Of Adullam that are underexposed in cinema, and it is satisfying to see these stories documented to film in such a proficient manner.

Running counter to the assertive nature of martial arts, The Cave of Adullam is soft. From the unique approach to what these boys are taught to even the way Wilson speaks as he narrates. The Cave Of Adullam is an emotionally-driven presentation with genuine care built into every frame shot and every statement made. By the end, there’s a sense of optimism that audiences can leave with, and perhaps this level of hope and inspiration can help instigate a new, productive way of raising the next generation of underprivileged youth.

Acting and Casting - 2 | Visual Effects and Editing - 2 | Story and Message - 2 | Entertainment Value - 2 | Music Score and Soundtrack - 1| Reviewer's Preference - 2 | What does this mean?