Filmmaker Yance Ford presents the police as the 'armies that they have become' in 'Power'

Charting the history of policing in America, the new documentary "Power" is rooted in questions: Who exactly are the police meant to serve? And whose interests are they protecting? Utilizing an essay form, the film turns to an impressive roster of legal experts, scholars, journalists and law-enforcement officials to bring the viewer along for an inquisitive probing of an issue that cuts to the core of social divides.

When director Yance Ford's 2017 film "Strong Island," was nominated for an Oscar for documentary feature, it made him the first openly transgender director to have a film nominated for an Academy Award.

"Strong Island" examines the story of how Ford's brother William, then a 24-year-old teacher, was shot to death by a white 19-year-old mechanic in 1992 in an incident a grand jury found justifiable. The film explores in intimate detail the impact the criminal justice system has on one family's grief.

With "Power," Ford takes on a much broader scope, while still grounding the documentary very much in personal inquiry and curiosity. The core missions of police to protect property and control populations are often at odds with public safety and community concerns. Though the film does not provide easy