Geeta Gandbhir, award-winning director and producer, has released her newest creation. The Perfect Neighbor world premier at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. This powerful documentary chronicles the senseless murder of Ajike “AJ” Owens. The 35-year-old mom and community advocate had been shot by her white neighbor, 61-year-old Susan Lorincz, after an argument over kids playing in an open field behind their homes in Ocala, Florida. The film is scheduled to stream on Netflix in the coming months. We hope it will continue to add light to critical societal issues such as race, fear and the failures of policing.
The story is set during Florida’s publicity-grabbing “stand your ground” laws. These statutes have ignited passionate debates about their application in situations where the racial dynamics are perhaps more clear-cut. What actually happens, Gandbhir adds, is that people end up weaponizing these laws. This contributes to a toxic climate for people of color, who are too often seen as dangerous. Since research shows that homicides in which white aggressors kill Black victims are five times as likely to be classified as justifiable,
Underlying the film’s historical tragedy is a powerful narrative about how race and fear can be manipulated as weapons. It further exposes the systemic failures within law enforcement to de-escalate known threats. Ajike Owens’ death was more than a tragic occurrence—it marked the end of a long battle with Lorincz. In her defense, Lorincz originally alleged that she shot a single bullet through her front door in self-defense. As the horrific case raises in stark focus, how effective are police at preventing a domestic dispute from bursting into deadly violence?
Gandbhir’s passion for the story started on a personal note. As Ajike Owens was a family friend. After learning about the circumstances surrounding Owens’ death, she approached Pamela Dias, Owens’ mother, proposing a film that would not only honor her daughter’s memory but seek justice for her untimely death.
In producing “The Perfect Neighbor,” Gandbhir committed to keeping the film almost entirely rooted in official footage. She steered clear of tropes of other documentaries like voiceover or talking heads with experts. Her reasoning for the decision is in agreement with her own mantra that “the secret to great storytelling… is show and don’t tell.” To do so, she hopes to have an immersive experience for her viewers.
“If you tell an audience what’s happening, they might question you: who are you and how do you know?” – Geeta Gandbhir
Rather than going through a series of talking heads, Gandbhir feels that giving audiences the experience and access to the events themselves is what builds trust. Talking heads are an excellent resource. When you’re able to tell your audience with a picture, you build credibility with them,” she goes on to say. This unique approach to storytelling invites viewers to experience the narrative on a more experiential level, inviting them to draw their own conclusions.
The film captures the immediate aftermath of Ajike’s killing, showcasing the community’s reaction and the horror of that night. On the night Ajike was killed, that horror felt all too close. What stands out to Gandbhir is how the community mobilized almost immediately. This part of the film explores this duality well — the tragedy, loss, and grief combined with the endurance and grit of community.
“That is the best of America. That is what I believe in and what we hope people walk away with – realising that communities like that need to be protected. We must protect them from the Susans of the world.” – Geeta Gandbhir
Lorincz’s legal struggle ended with a guilty plea for manslaughter and a sentence of 25 years in prison. The case serves as a microcosm to larger, systemic problems surrounding race and justice in America. This inequality in the application of self-defense claims by race continues to be an important topic today.
Gandbhir’s investigation into Lorincz’s mentality makes for some really troubling viewing. It’s the most interesting thing there is, I think. What’s amazing to me is that she really thought she would pull this off right up until the end. There was a real lack of remorse. Her only concern was herself. This anecdote illustrates the severe dehumanization that often takes place in tightly racially contentious situations.
“She dehumanised Ajike over time… to the point where she was like, ‘The only answer is that I shoot her.’” – Geeta Gandbhir
In The Perfect Neighbor, Gandbhir’s goal is to capture the immediacy of a tragedy. He hopes to inspire difficult discussions on the issues of systemic racism, legal injustices, and accountability to communities. Netflix’s future release of the film will ensure even more people get to see it. More importantly, we hope that it will ignite critical discussions about how our society addresses matters of race and state violence.