100 Films Celebrating Black Film-Makers
Jas compiled 100 films to honour October’s Black History Month, here is a choice selection for you to check — but don’t forget to check the full list on this Letterboxd link . et watching.
Boyz N The Hood
John Singleton, 1991
Three childhood friends, Darrin, Tre and Ricky, struggle to cope with the distractions and dangers of growing up in a Los Angeles ghetto.
La noire de… (Black Girl)
Ousmane Sembène, 1966
Diouana, a Senegalese woman aspiring for a better life, takes the job of a governess for a French family. But, her duties are restricted to those of a maid and she starts facing racial discrimination.
Free Angela Davis and All Political Prisoners
Shola Lynch, 2012
College professor Angela Davis’ social activism implicates her in a botched kidnapping that ends with four people dead and her name on the FBI’s most-wanted list
Ganja & Hess
Bill Gunn, 1973
After being stabbed with an ancient, germ-infested knife, a doctor’s assistant finds himself with an insatiable desire for blood.
The Watermelon Woman
Cheryl Dunye, 1996
An aspiring black lesbian filmmaker (Cheryl Dunye) researches an obscure 1940s black actress billed as the Watermelon Woman.
Summer of Soul (… or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
Ahmir Khalib Thompson, A.K.A Questlove, 2021
Over the course of six weeks during the summer of 1969, thousands of people attend the Harlem Cultural Festival to celebrate Black history, culture, music and fashion.
Baby Boy
Jon Singleton, 2001
In South Central L.A., a misguided 20-year-old African-American man, a “baby boy”, faces the commitments of real life.
Love Jones
Theodore Witcher, 1997
Oversized Leather Coats, Poetry, & Love — Set in Chicago, Love Jones, mostly known for its sleek style, sweet soundtrack and classy cinematography, follows the story of Nina (Nia Long) & Darius (Larenz Tate) who begin dating. The film touches on topics around friendship, creativity & love. This steamy 90’s independent Comedy/ Romance is not one to skip out on!
Moonlight
Barry Jenkins, 2016
Chiron, a young African-American boy, finds guidance in Juan, a drug dealer, who teaches him to carve his own path. As he grows up in Miami, Juan’s advice leaves a lasting impression on him.
Set It Off
F. Gary Gary, 1996
Four Black women, all of whom have suffered for lack of money and at the hands of the majority, undertake to rob banks.
De Cierta Manera (One Way or Another)
Sara Gómez, 1977
De cierta manera is a 1974 Cuban romantic drama film. Directed by Sara Gómez, the film mixes documentary-style footage with a fictional story that looks at the poor neighborhoods of Havana shortly after the Cuban Revolution of 1959.
Queen & Slim
Melina Matsoukas, 2019
Queen and Slim go out for a date. However, their romantic adventure takes an unexpected turn when a police officer catches them for rash driving.
I Am Not a Witch
Rungano Nyoni, 2017
The first child is taken to a travelling witch camp, where she is told that she should cut the ribbon and attempt to escape. Crossing the witches is a bad idea and she risks being cursed and transformed into a goat.
Black Is… Black Ain’t
Marlon Riggs, 1994
African-American documentary filmmaker Marlon Riggs was working on this final film as he died from AIDS-related complications in 1994; he addresses the camera from his hospital bed in several scenes. Including interviews with African-American intellectuals and political theorists, with Cornel West, Bell Hooks and Angela Davis.
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We have compiled 100 films honouring October’s Black History Month, go check the rest of the list on Letterboxd.
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