Ava DuVernay releases ‘14th’ documentary on constitutional rights

Filmmaker Ava DuVernay has released ‘14th’, a documentary serving as a spiritual successor to her acclaimed film ‘13th’. The documentary premiered at the New York Film Festival and is scheduled for a Netflix release in December.

The film examines the Fourteenth Amendment, exploring its five sections which cover citizenship, due process, equal protection, and the insurrection clause. DuVernay uses interviews with legal experts, politicians, and scholars to discuss the amendment's historical role in the post-Civil War era and its contemporary relevance to issues like birthright citizenship and voting rights.

While receiving praise for its ability to make complex constitutional law accessible, the film has faced criticism regarding its use of generative AI to reanimate archival black-and-white photographs, causing debate among critics about the ethics of animating historical figures without consent.