Mom of The Perfect Neighbor subject's response to Netflix documentary unveiled
The Perfect Neighbor is a new Netflix documentary about the tragic killing of mother-of-four Ajike 'AJ' Owens, which has left audiences devastated after its release
The mother of The Perfect Neighbor's devastating subject Ajike 'AJ' Owens has revealed her moving response after watching the Netflix documentary for the first time.
Now streaming on the platform from Friday, 17th October, the film by Geeta Gandbhir chronicles Owens' killing by her neighbor Susan Lorincz using harrowing, intimate police bodycam footage.
Audiences who have already watched over the weekend have been left devastated by the real-life tragedy, which occurred just two years ago in Ocala, Florida. Mother of four Owens was merely 35 when she was fatally shot by Lorincz following their history of disputes, which included racist abuse hurled at Owens' children.
The documentary's release has been enabled by Owens' mother, Pamela Dias, who granted consent for the distressing footage of her daughter's death to be broadcast to the public, reports the Mirror, reports the Express.
Filmmaker Gandbhir has subsequently shared Dias' reaction to the completed film in a recent interview with The Guardian.
"I showed Pam the film when it was completed and I said, 'Is this what you want?'" she said.
"She said, 'Yes, the world needs to know what happened to my baby'."
The Perfect Neighbor has secured an incredible 100 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics lauding Gandbhir's decision to use raw police camera footage to let the devastating story unfold naturally.
Breaking down her distinctive documentary method, she explained: "For people of colour like myself, for Black and brown folks, oftentimes [bodycam footage is] seen as a violent tool.
"The police come into our communities and, afterwards, they use body camera footage to criminalise and dehumanise us, to justify violence they may perpetrate against the community.
"I wanted to take this footage and flip it on its head."
Lorincz received a 25-year jail term after being convicted of one count of manslaughter with a firearm and one count of assault.
Nevertheless, she has denied allegations that the incident was racially driven and offered an apology to Owens' relatives.
During her sentencing, Lorincz declared in court: "I am so sorry that I took AJ's life. I never intended to kill her.
"The night I shot that gun I was confused as to why she was screaming and pounding on my door. Please accept my humble and sincere apology for this tragedy."
The Perfect Neighbor can be watched on Netflix.