frustrated nation, circa 2008. >> it's about three guys who used to be in a hip hop group together kind of coming to terms with the failure of that group. >> yeah. >> and it takes place significantly, i think, from the night at that barack obama is elected. why? >> well, i wanted to write about three characters who had sort of lost their optimism and the bs way to really outline them was to cast them against this evening when it felt like everyone in new york city was looking forward with positivity, with optimism. >> reporter: optimism and strength are at the heart of this renewed push for influential films. as this american debate over racial relations continue, the movies, too, depict a country divided and the characters portrayed in these films are of those who have often been