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.
It should be noted as well that the narrative structure is held together beautifully by Lakeith 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 This is a historical document, not only of Peck’s life but of the journey of racial injustice.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.
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 playing at TIFF ’24. For more information, click here.
