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Whereas most of the feature-length movies had very serious topics, the shorts were mixed with a high emphasis on comedy, most of them very good.
Latin Lazer! Red Velveteen! Cadillac Carter! Lady Blaze! These are the SHEROES, one of the most fun MVAAFF shorts. Represented at the fest’ by writer/producer and co-star Teri Benjamin, SHEROES is a tounge-in-cheek romp about four young women who discover they have super abilities beyond those of mortal women who under the tutelage of their Professor X/Niles Caulder-type African mentor train to control their powers in order to save the world from a pre-destined evil hell-bent on taking over the world (cue bad guy music)! Full of charming characters and cute special effects, this amusing short – part of a soon-to-be web series according to Benjamin - is worth keeping an eye on. Check out the SHEROES webpage for more amusement.
Still reeling with renewed inspiration for ZEMIRA, I’m fresh off the bus (and ferry, and other bus…) from the 2009 Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, an amazingly refreshing and upbeat gathering founded and run by husband and wife team Floyd Rance III and Stephanie Rance, two of the coolest and accessible programmers I’ve ever met.
In no specific order, here I’m going to highlight my favorite films and filmmakers from the festival, especially touching of filmmakers who took a chance with their work. I should note to any of the filmmakers reading this, I did miss some of the films from Day 1, so no offense in not mentioning your work. Also, time permitting, I may highlight some other good films from the festival as well.
Features – Documentaries & Narratives
Filmed with a gritty style that complements its theme, Business Is War was among the premiere features shown this past week. Directed by Kemal Gordon, the film centers on Dennis “Dutty” Sykes, a brilliant Boston hustler who’s always able to get the best of merchandise for his clients – from Gucci bags to rare wine – but is smart enough to stay away from consuming street violence. But this isn’t a ghetto film folks. Dutty, like a true hustler, is sharp enough to realize that the hustle game can’t last much longer and seizes upon an opportunity to move into the corporate world and uses his business skills to climb up that ladder quickly. But just like the streets, there are people in the corporate world trying to bring him down as both of his lives crash in on each other. Played with true charm by newcomer and Boston local Christopher Bennett, Business’ Dutty is an extremely likeable character that has you cheering for his success. The rest of the cast stands out as well, especially Corey Rodrigues as the comedy relief character Black, Wayne Stephens as the muscle of Dutty’s crew Zookie, and John Depew as Dutty’s boss Mr. Smith. Check out more on the film at http://www.biwthemovie.com and the trailer below.
The docs stood out at MVAAFF too, though in all fairness there were more of them than narratives. Chief among the best were Harlem’s Mart 125: The American Dream, a historical journey from the 1960’s through present day that examines the perplexities surrounding 125th Street, the main commercial zone/strip of Harlem. Delving into issues of gentrification, racism, mismanagement and straight greed, director Rachelle Gardner’s nine-year examination into this area, best known for the world-famous Apollo Theater, brings to light the struggles of the vendors who once sold their wares and services on the strip and were then pushed into a mini-mart that quickly became run down not because of the community and vendors who often made repairs themselves, but by those who put them in that box themselves – akin to creating a ghetto. A few looks into the audience during the screening, with their eyes steadily forward on the screen, no fidgeting, or taking steady swigs of water, and the like made me fully realize that no matter where Black folks are from, Harlem really is the greatest focal point in America for Black culture. Though Harlem’s Mart 125 has screened at other venues in the past, this was the first fully-complete version of the film ever shown – so look out for it soon. There's even more info on the website: http://www.harlemmart125.com
In line with the ideals of Harlem’s Mart 125, were Return to Mexico City and Les’t we forget. Return, which won the Saatchi & Saatchi Producer’s Award, went into the timeless and emotional story of Tommie Smith and John Carlos, the two African American 1968 Olympic Games runners that as an act of protest against the mistreatment of Blacks back home in the USA, decided to raise their fists into the air during the awards ceremony for the race they both won. Most people are unaware of how this act of defiance practically destroyed these two men’s lives to the point where they hadn’t seen or spoken to each other in over 25 years. But producer/director Joie Walls dramatically unfolded those events and showed us both men’s reunion and return to the 40th Anniversary of the Games. Although already airing on ESPN this past February, this is worth a look.
Les’t we forget depicts the experiences of enslaved African women and brilliantly compares them with the feelings deeply embedded in the souls and spirits of modern day Black women and ultimately their families. It doesn’t ignore the effect on Black men, but with shocking images and accounts delves into how enslaved Africans were brought over to the Americas then bred like cattle and disregarded as such when their usefulness ran out and how that affects African American life today. More powerful than other docs I’ve seen in the past on slavery – and I’ve seen a lot! - Les’t we forget is necessary viewing for all.
10-20, the overall winner of the festival’s HBO Feature Film Award, tells the story of EJ Henderson, a young man that discovers at that sensitive age of 13 that his entire life thus far is a lie as he’s given back to a mother her never knew. As he grows older, EJ attempts to channel his anger into art through poetry, but also tries to find control and acceptance in the cold hard streets. Directed and co-written by Terrisha Kearse, “10-20 derives its name from the Florida law that guarantees a 10-year sentence for possession of an unlicensed firearm, and 20 years to life if the gun is aimed at a person with the intent to shoot or kill.” Based on real-life events that lead to the incarceration of a close family member of Kearse’s, 10-20 is well acted and crafted film well deserving of its recent and most-likely future award status. Most recognizable of the cast is one of my long-time favorite actresses, the grossly underused Toy Connor, who most of our readers will recognize from as Tyreeka, Sean Nelson’s girlfriend from “The Corner.” (Stay tuned for info on another alum from “The Corner”)
All of the films above, as well as many of the short films I’ll review in Part 2 of this coverage, encapsulate what I most liked about the festival selections as well as film in general – the personal film. Films that reach into your spirit or your mind and tug at it at the most unexpected moments. Films that come from the heart. Cinema. It’s a beautiful thing y’all.
