Director of The Perfect Neighbor explains why the documentary almost ended before trial verdict

Everything about The Perfect Neighbor is heartbreaking, and the ending is no different, but director Geeta Gandbhir has now revealed why the documentary almost ended before the trial verdict.

Watching The Perfect Neighbor on Netflix is an emotional experience. The documentary traces the tragic story of Ajike “AJ” Owens, a Black mother of four who was shot and killed by her neighbour, Susan Lorincz, in Florida. The film is raw and deeply affecting, but the way it ends, with the verdict in Lorincz’s trial, wasn’t always planned that way.

So, how was it supposed to end initially?

Susan Lorincz via Netflix

In an interview with Film Comment, director Geeta Gandbhir explained how the ending came together. Trials, she said, are unpredictable. “It was supposed to be in June, and then it was pushed to August. Originally, we thought it was going to be in November or December of 2023,” Gandbhir said.

At first, Gandbhir considered ending the documentary with Lorincz’s arrest. “Once Susan was arrested, which you saw was the most ridiculous kind of circus, with her refusing to leave the room, once that had happened, we thought that we could end the film there. We could have a title card saying that the trial was pending. And hopefully that would keep people engaged,” she explained.

Because the trial happened in time, she also thought about including the trial throughout the film but ultimately decided against it. “At one point I questioned whether we should interweave the trial throughout the film. And I thought, absolutely not. It is a full story up until the arrest, and then the family gets to have the last word.”

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By waiting to include the final verdict, Gandbhir allowed the documentary to maintain its emotional impact.

The Perfect Neighbor is available on Netflix now. For all the latest Netflix news and drops, like The Holy Church of Netflix on Facebook.