The film chronicles the 2014 police shooting and killing of a young 28-year-old Black father,
Peter Liang(who is not related to the filmmaker), a first-generation Chinese American, rookie NYPD officer and the first NYPD officer convicted for an on-duty shooting in
more than 15 years. As a filmmaker, Liang explores the experiences of two marginalized communities — Black and Asian — as they each navigate the legal system.
Watch a trailer from the film below
The documentary is eerily well-timed for what the nation’s sentiments are today, following mass protests against
anti-Asian hate. Liang gives an intimate view of Gurley’s family — but not of Peter Liang, whom she reached out to but was not granted an interview with — in less than 90 minutes. “Down a Dark Stairwell” also features activists from each community, who speak candidly about police brutality and racism. Additionally, the documentary gets up close and personal to reveal what oppression looks like between Black and Chinese American communities in New York City, what justice means to each, and the importance of using dialogue to dismantle white supremacy. Liang’s conviction resulted in