Directed by Marc Levin
Featuring Michael Tubbs and Common
Running time: 1 hour and 32 minutes

by Benjamin Leonard, Best Boy

Look. Things can seem pretty miserable at times. Somedays when I wake up, the world feels like we are all just a bunch of turds circling the drain. It’s hard to feel inspired to make changes, make the world better and help your neighbors. Sometimes you just wanna slump over on your couch and watch a movie to escape the misery. Guess what gang? You’re in luck! HBO just released Mark Levin’s Stockton on My Mind. Now you can plop down on your couch to watch a movie and actually feel energized to help make a difference.

The film follows the first term of Michael Tubbs as the Mayor of Stockton. At the time of his election (the same election the Donald Trump was elected president), Stockton was one of the largest cities to file for bankruptcy and had one of the worst literacy and homicide rates in the United States. The community NEEDED a change. Perhaps this is why he was the youngest (and first Black) mayor Stockton had ever elected.

At first, this feels a bit like a feature length reelection campaign ad. However, as the film progresses, we learn more and more of Michael Tubbs’s backstory, as well as the people of Stockton. We see what drove Tubbs to succeed and what pulled him back to Stockton when all he wanted to do as a child was escape. And then we witness how he takes from his experiences, both good and bad, and helps build relationships to rebuild the communities that he’s seen ripped apart.

But it isn’t all sunshine and roses, the film also shows some of the struggles he was up against. Tubbs has a number of controversial initiatives that he has introduced and groups that he has partnered with: Universal Basic Income, Stockton Scholars and Advance Peace, to name a few. Why these are controversial is somewhat baffling. The funding sources are from private sources, not tax dollars, but some people just see it as giving away free money to criminals rather than helping to rebuild communities. Stockton on My Mind shows how Tubbs has worked to change some people’s minds and attitudes through discussion, as well as results.

Tubbs’s activism doesn’t stop at creating policies and gathering contributions from private industries, though. We see him on the streets at the midterm election, pushing for changes to keep going. We see him at community events, engaging with people. He personally goes out to help with a city-wide homeless survey. These are the kind of politicians we need, active and engaged.

To me, the most important takeaways from the film were the methods that Tubbs employs. As the child of a single mother and an imprisoned father, he has a shared experience with much of his constituency. When people describe their situations, he doesn’t show shame or pity, but understanding, and has pride for their accomplishments in spite of those situations. The film shows you these things organically, rather than stating it on a billboard. You see the stories unfold through the day to day interactions and really get a sense of the community.

Marc Levin has directed a number of narrative and documentary films and television shows over the years, often with an eye towards social justice and adding to the conversations that help improve society for everyone. In addition to recommending Stockton on My Mind, he currently has a number of things available to watch digitally. Slam, Mr. Untouchable and The Last Party are all streaming while Brick City and Freeway: Crack in the System are available On Demand. Pull yourself out of your funk and watch something uplifting and inspirational, for a change.

Stockton on My Mind is available to stream from HBO and HBO MAX.