Special screenings of the Oscar-nominated documentary “The Perfect Neighbor” will be held at Stanford University on February 25th and at Fordham University School of Law on March 4th.
Directed by Geeta Gundbir, Perfect Neighbor tells the story of a dispute in a small Florida neighborhood that escalates into deadly gun violence when Ajike Owens, a young black mother of four, is shot and killed by her neighbor Susan Lorintz. The documentary is made from police body camera, Ring camera, and cell phone footage, as well as recordings of 911 calls.
The film focuses on Florida’s Stand Your Ground law, which Lorincz invoked during his trial, which allows individuals to use deadly force if deemed necessary to prevent death or bodily harm.
Stanford Law School will host a screening and discussion with Gundbil and producer Nikon Kwantu on February 25th at 5 p.m. This event is held in partnership with the American Constitution Society, Stanford Criminal Justice Center, Stanford Women in Law, and the Middle Eastern and South Asian Law Students Association.
Fordham Law School’s Center on Race, Law, and Justice will host a screening and Q&A with Gundbiel and producer Alisa Payne on March 4th at 5:30 p.m.
In the lead-up to the 2023 shooting, Lorintz consistently called 911 over a two-year period complaining that Owens’ children and other neighborhood children were making too much noise and playing on “her property.” In an interview with Variety, Gundbir described the film’s pace as “slow burn.”
“The whole thing is very jarring when these revelations come out,” the filmmaker said. “This is a horror movie in many ways.”
“Perfect Neighbor,” which originally premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, was acquired by Netflix in February 2025 for a reported $5 million. The documentary received 16.7 million views in the first three days after its release on Netflix.
