“Non silba sed anthar (not for self, but for others)” [Ku Klux Klan motto] Based on a true story, Best of Enemies tells the story of Durham, NC, in 1971. When a school for blacks has a fire, the students need to be moved. But where, to a white school? That certainly gets everyone’s attention…. [Read More]
Oscar-Nominated Short Documentaries
When it is time to award the best in films each year, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences include three categories of short films in their Oscar presentations. Most people don’t get to see many shorts. They play at festivals, and occasionally in front of a feature film. But short films are an… [Read More]
A Dangerous Idea – Social Darwinism vs. The American Dream
The American Dream is that there are no limits to what someone can be. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men [sic] are created equal….” But does science, especially genetics, put that into doubt or even undermine it? A Dangerous Idea: Eugenics, Genetics and the American Dream takes a look at the… [Read More]
BlacKkKlansman – Spike Lee Brings It
The film would be entertaining if all it did was reflect back on that time and see the battle against racism at that time. But the parallels with our own time are so strong that we can’t ignore them.
Saturday at AFI Fest 2017
The first full day for the festival took me on a trip around the world. That’s one of the values of film festivals, we get to see other lands and cultures without the expense and time of travel. (Not that I wouldn’t love being able to go to so many places.)
I Am Not Your Negro – The More Things Change…
Can the words of an African-American writer who has been dead for three decades speak to the America of today? I Am Not Your Negro is almost entirely the words of James Baldwin, some from archival TV footage, some in voiceover by Samuel L. Jackson.
When Justice Isn’t Just – Racial Justice Still Eludes
When Justice Isn’t Just tries to show a few of the issues around the question of race. However, its forty-two minutes is not nearly enough to truly be effective.
The Duel – Spiritual Captivity in the Old West
The idea of captivity is important to the film, although it often seems to be operating in the background. There are physical captives, but there are also emotional spiritual captives. These later forms are perhaps even more dangerous that the physical imprisonment of some.
Zootopia – Can Diversity Work?
I think one of the most impressive things about Zootopia is not its animation quality (which is very good) or its storyline (which is certainly worthy of the Disney trademark), but the prescience of the filmmakers to have this film coming out when it does.
The Difference Woodlawn Can Make
The first time I saw Woodlawn, I knew I was watching something different. While some might tell you that this film will revolutionize faith or instantly convert everyone to Christianity, I will tell you that its power is something more realistic but no less spectacular. This story about faith, race, and football in Birmingham at the… [Read More]
