The Sundance and Cannes Film Festival award-winning film "Fruitvale Station" opened this weekend, coinciding with the life-changing, controversial verdict announcement in the Trayvon Martin trial.

Though the two occurrences were merely coincidence, the "similarity of two high-profile shootings was a potent reminder for the Weinstein Co., Forest Whitaker-produced film," according to Variety.

"Fruitvale" tells the story of Oscar Grant, a 22-years-young, unarmed African American male who was shot to death by a BART police officer in California's Bay Area on New Years Eve 2009, according to IMDB.

Drawing striking parallels to Martin's story, the film's timing resonated with the news of George Zimmerman's acquittal on Saturday night.

"Obviously, we had no idea of what would be going on at the time we dated the movie, but it's very topical," said Weinstein distribution topper Eric Lomis. "It's hard to watch this film and not be moved."

The praised biopic, starring Michael B. Jordan and Oscar winner Octavia Spencer, scored the weekend's highest per-screen average with $54,000 at seven locations including the sold-out Grand Lake Theater in Oakland, Calif., where Grant called home. "Fruitvale" will hit more screens on Friday before going nationwide, reports Variety.

As more and more people watch this film, reviews will roll in. USA Today reported that audiences will see a "face, heart and soul behind the heartbreaking headlines" in the "profoundly compelling, gut-wrenching and important film." The story, directed by first-timer Ryan Coogler, starts off with Grant's last and fateful night before chronicling the 24 hours leading up to his death.

The newspaper added that audiences are likely to be overwhelmed by anger and an inability to stop what's coming while hoping against hope for Jordan's "brillantly-portrayed" Grant to escape his fate.

Jordan almost cancelled a Q & A at a Los Angeles movie screening following the verdict news, reported Deadline. "I want to hear your questions tonight and answer them," the actor said. "But if you could keep it away from Trayvon, I think my opinion on that is not going to help anybody right now." He went on to say that the acquittal "broke him up" and people must "learn to treat each other better and stop judging one another because we're different."

Check out the trailer for the film and tell us what you think with a comment below.