Six, Seven, Eight (Egypt, 2010)
Written and directed by Mohamed Diab
North American premiere
100 min.
Arabic with English subtitles
Inspired by actual events, this film interweaves the lives of three young Egyptian women of different class backgrounds and lifestyles, all victimized by sexual harrassment in a culture that privileges men and routinely overlooks these crimes. Diab's expert facility for narrative--applying both dramatic tension and humor--almost turns this fervent arc towards justice into a soap opera. But the straightforward accessibility of his storytelling in no way undercuts the impact of its message and the lasting impression delivered by lead actresses Boshra, Nelly Karim and Nahed El Sebai and by Maged El Kedwany, Diab's savvy detective.
See Six, Seven, Eight at the Museum of Modern Art on March 26 (3:30pm) or at the Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center on March 28 (9pm). For more information and ticketing, click here and here.
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| Black activist Angela Davis (photo by Story) |
The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 (Sweden, 2011)
Written and directed by Göran Hugo Olsson
A Sundance Selects release
100 min.
Swedish filmmakers discovered a 30-year-old forgotten treasure trove of footage that documented the history and major leaders of the U.S. Black Power movement of the '60s and '70s. They mixed that up with commentary from artists, scholars and activists such as Harry Belafonte, Robin Kelly, Sonia Sanchez, Erykah Badu and Talib Kweli. At turns, provocatively questioning and surprisingly intimate, this film--as well as the political philosophies and strategies it examines--has decided resonance for us today. It's also an often beautiful and heart-wrenching work of art.
See The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 at the Museum of Modern Art on March 26 (9pm) or at the Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center on March 28 (6pm). For more information and ticketing, click here.
This is a mixed treasure trove of historical clips .. not in any way shape or form definitive ... but the interview with Rap Brown's mother positions generationally the legacy of Rap Brown and totally humanizes him. Angela Davis was brilliant than and is brilliant now. Even with its limitations ( and here is where selection of clips for inclusion is a critical issue) a must see.
ReplyDeleteHi, Jim! I agree, but you probably mean Stokely Carmichael, not Rap Brown. Those segments of the film are totally unexpected, poignant, powerful--an essential reason to see this film.
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