A fresh Netflix documentary called “The Perfect Neighbor” has stirred intense emotions among viewers. Directed by Geeta Gandbhir, the film has garnered praise for its distinctive storytelling approach.
The documentary delves into a disturbing American tragedy, unfolding through a blend of bodycam footage, ringcam and phone recordings, 911 calls, and interrogation room clips. It revolves around the real-life case of a white Florida woman who fatally shot a black mother of four in 2023.
Susan Lorincz, a 60-year-old neighbor of the victim, Ajike ‘AJ’ Owens, is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence after being convicted of manslaughter with a firearm in 2024. Netflix’s chilling synopsis states: “She was no stranger to police, routinely calling 911 on kids playing nearby. An American tragedy unfolds through bodycam and interrogation room footage.”
Geeta Gandbhir, the American filmmaker behind the documentary, expressed her intention to highlight police shortcomings by sifting through two years of police body cam footage. She emphasized the importance of bearing witness to such crimes to prevent them from persisting in obscurity.
Gandbhir provocatively raised the question: “If you can resort to using a gun to resolve a minor dispute with your neighbor, what other actions are you capable of?”
An Emmy award-winning director, producer, and editor, Gandbhir, a Harvard University graduate with a background in visual art specializing in animation, has a rich history in narrative and documentary filmmaking. Beyond “The Perfect Neighbor,” she has contributed to various impactful documentaries, including Spike Lee’s Peabody Award-winning HBO film “If God Is Willing and da Creek Don’t Rise” and Paramount Plus series “Born in Synanon.”
Gandbhir’s recent work includes co-directing and executive producing the Netflix documentary “Katrina: Come Hell and High Water.” “The Perfect Neighbor” is currently available for streaming on Netflix.