Emmy-nominated American writer and film director Stefan Forbes, known for making the documentary “Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story,” is back with another fantastic documentary, this time focusing on conflict resolution and how you can’t fight fire with fire in the aptly titled, “Hold Your Fire.” The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last year and was quickly acquired by IFC Films.
“Hold Your Fire” takes us back to Brooklyn in 1973 when the New York City Police Department experienced the longest hostage standoff in the history of the department. Shu’aib Raheem and his friends attempted to steal guns for self-defense from a sporting goods store, which sparked a hostage situation that received round-the-clock national news coverage. Hoping to not have another bloodbath unfold, NYPD psychologist Harvey Scholssberg worked to ensure everyone made it out alive and changed police hostage negotiations, for good.
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Through interviews with people such as Harvey Scholssberg, Shu’aib Rahim, and Jerry Riccio – who lived through this situation – we get a glimpse into what each side experienced in those 47 hours. Did the NYPD have a scenario such as what unfolded at Attica where dozens of people were going to die? Were the four Black Muslim men really a part of the Black Liberation Army that was responsible for the deaths of police officers? Was Scholssberg’s idea of de-escalation truly going to work? Do we still practice these tactics today? Thankfully, we don’t have to wait long for these questions and more to be answered, IFC Films will be releasing “Hold Your Fire” in theaters and on-demand on May 20, 2022.
Here’s the official synopsis:
Brooklyn, 1973. When Shu’aib Raheem and his friends attempted to steal guns for self defense, it sparked the longest hostage siege in NYPD history. NYPD psychologist Harvey Scholssberg fought to avert a bloodbath, reform police methods, and save the lives of hostages, police, and the four young Muslim men in the heart of the conflict.
“Hold Your Fire” was produced by Fab Five Freddy, Tia Wou, and Amir Soltani, with consulting producer Sam Pollard on board too. Check out the new exclusive trailer and poster below and make sure to check out theaters when it arrives in May.
