Sometimes, the greatest advocate for the voiceless is simply an image of truth.
In the new doc Ernest Cole: Lost and Found, we find an intimate portrait of the famed South African photographer. Having won acclaim for his book House of Bondage in the late 60s, Cole and his camera drew attention to the Black experience of Apartheid. However, having been exiled to the US and Europe, Cole’s lens also captured the darkness of racism in the Civil Rights Era. Nevertheless, before his death in 1990, Cole found himself struggling to be heard, eventually leading to his own homelessness. Finally, when 60,000 unknown negatives of his work were discovered in a Swedish bank in 2017, suddenly Cole’s work was thrust back into the spotlight.
Directed by the Oscar-winner Raoul Peck, Ernest Cole: Lost and Found is a fascinating study of a man who helped shape our views on social justice during its peak era of change. Having been brought to the project by Cole’s nephew, Peck clearly has a passion for his subject, highlighting the impact that the man had upon the world of his time. But what makes this film particularly fascinating though is that it features only pictures taken by Cole himself. Rather than feature a slew of interviews or re-creations, Peck features Cole’s work in a way that feels more meaningful. After all, these aren’t the opinions of others. These photos are simply reality.
It should be noted as well that the narrative structure is held together beautifully by Stanfield’s narrative voice. Reading Peck’s own journals, Stanfield’s cool and confident account gives life to the otherwise-static photorealistic style. Together, the two pieces combine into a doc that feels truly special. This is a historical document, not only of Peck’s life but of the journey of racial injustice. And it works in stunning fashion.
If there’s a missing piece to what is otherwise an outstanding film, it’s that the details of the missing negatives are so scant. While this isn’t the fault of the filmmakers, the film does market this aspect as a major part of the story. However, Lost and Found simply doesn’t have enough information to make that a primary part of the narrative.
But, while interesting, it’s also not particularly necessary.
An unsolved mystery is always a great way to get people to watch any documentary. However, Lost and Foundis at its most compelling when it sits with Cole’s images. After all, this is a man who had seen it all. House of Bondage is just one example of the incredible moments in history that he had the opportunity to capture on film. Watching the civil rights movement take shape and experiencing homelessness, Cole’s ability to find the truth of his images is nothing short of profound. His ability to ‘steal every moment’ helped shine a light on the stories that most people ignore.
There’s real power in that.
Although silent, Cole’s work gives voice to the people that are missed by others. Every moment matters… but many of us miss the ones that we don’t see (or want to see). In Lost and Found, Peck allows these images to speak for themselves. Yes, Stanfied may serve as the film’s narrator but it’s really the photos that do the talking. These are spaces on the streets that people frequently ignore and Peck highlights the importance of the people within them. In doing so, these are images that have had the opportunity to shift our attention, reminding us of the values of those on the fringes.
Therein lies the beauty of Ernest Cole: Lost and Found. Here, pictures really are worth a thousand words… and may help create change in the process.
Ernest Cole: Lost and Found is available in theatres on Friday, December 6th, 2024.
