There are few things that are truly hard for me to watch. Horror films? Psychological thrillers? Not at all. My love for horror stems from an understanding of real-life dangers, the kind that a young Black man faces every single day. But even in those moments, when I speak, I am heard. People may choose to ignore or misunderstand, but they cannot tune me out completely. The same cannot be said for Marcus Knight, a man whose innocence, brilliance, and kindness were met with something no one deserves.
Filmmaker Madeleine Farley has crafted a brave, gut-wrenching, and necessary documentary that highlights love, creativity, and the resilience of the human spirit. Fist Bump forces us to confront the deep flaws in the institutions we entrust with our sons and daughters and the unchecked power they wield over lives that don’t fit their rigid mold.
Marcus Knight is a remarkable young man. A biracial artist with autism and cerebral palsy, his talent is undeniable—his voice radiates like a Neptune god, his dreams of Broadway burn brightly. To say he is impressive would be an understatement. Marcus represents the greatness, brilliance, and passion that exist in all of us, regardless of the hand we’ve been dealt.
But what happened to Marcus is infuriating and deeply unjust, and Madeleine Farley presents his story with raw, unfiltered honesty. A gesture so innocent and universally accepted was twisted into something damaging and cruel. Watching him and his family endure the fallout was both heartbreaking and enraging. Fist Bump does more than tell Marcus’s story—it exposes the unchecked power these institutions have over us and our children, power that demands radical change. Farley captures every moment with sensitivity and purpose, making this not just a film but a call to action.
I cannot wait for you all to meet Marcus—he will blow you away. If Fist Bump doesn’t move you, check your pulse, because Madeleine Farley has delivered one of the most urgent and devastating documentaries of the year.
Rating: 5/5
Director: Madeleine Farley
Producer: Claire Best, Madeleine Farley
Cast: Marcus Knight, Aurora Knight, Lee Burdette Williams
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