Free Renty: Lanier v. Harvard
““The question is, who owns the rights to the violence of the past? Is it the victim or the perpetrator? ” — Tamara Lanier”
Synopsis
FREE RENTY tells the story of Tamara Lanier, an African American woman determined to force Harvard University to cede possession of daguerreotypes of her great-great-great grandfather, an enslaved man named Renty. The daguerreotypes were commissioned in 1850 by a Harvard professor to "prove" the superiority of the white race. The images remain emblematic of America’s failure to acknowledge the cruelty of slavery, the racist science that supported it and the white supremacy that continues to infect our society today. The film focuses on Lanier and tracks her lawsuit against Harvard, and features attorney Benjamin Crump, author Ta-Nehisi Coates and scholars Ariella Azoulay and Tina Campt.
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Release History & Theatrical Window
GlobeDocs Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- David Grubin
- Original Title
- Free Renty: Lanier v. Harvard
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 34m
- Production Studios
- David Grubin Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
David Grubin
Department Leadership Roster
David Grubin
Director
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Free Renty: Lanier v. Harvard.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Free Renty: Lanier v. Harvard.
list23
More Like Free Renty: Lanier v. Harvard
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About Free Renty: Lanier v. Harvard
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Free Renty: Lanier v. Harvard about?
FREE RENTY tells the story of Tamara Lanier, an African American woman determined to force Harvard University to cede possession of daguerreotypes of her great-great-great grandfather, an enslaved man named Renty. The daguerreotypes were commissioned in 1850 by a Harvard professor to "prove" the superiority of the white race. The images remain emblematic of America’s failure to acknowledge the cruelty of slavery, the racist science that supported it and the white supremacy that continues to infect our society today. The film focuses on Lanier and tracks her lawsuit against Harvard, and features attorney Benjamin Crump, author Ta-Nehisi Coates and scholars Ariella Azoulay and Tina Campt.
Who directed Free Renty: Lanier v. Harvard?
Free Renty: Lanier v. Harvard was directed by David Grubin.
Who stars in Free Renty: Lanier v. Harvard?
The principal cast of Free Renty: Lanier v. Harvard includes Tamara Lanier, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Benjamin Crump, Tina Campt.
When was Free Renty: Lanier v. Harvard released and how long is it?
Free Renty: Lanier v. Harvard was released in 2021 with a total runtime of 1h 34m.