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FILM 7
John Akomfrah
The thing that continues to amaze me about this film is how new it looks, no matter what year you see it. Produced shortly following a period of civil unrest by black citizens of England’s cities in the 80s, Handsworth Song weaves together visual and audio elements that testify on behalf of a community that is depressed and marginalized. The themes are not new – police brutality, poor public facilities and plain-old racism – but the story lays itself out in a style that can only be described as “new media,” even though the film is twenty years old. It will also connect you to the experience of black Europeans in ways most of us never think of.
From IW: I have to admit, even I have never heard of this film--but this is one of the reasons why this blog exists, to seek out the new and/or different. I am always interested to see the perspectives of other Blacks living in non-black countries, which is why I love the blog Charcoal Ink. Our folkses in the UK deal with racism just as intensely as we do here, maybe even more. Sad.
6 comments:
thank you for the shout out, IW. i would love to read more about the differences in racism between the US & the UK.
It is flabbergasting how some old people here in Eng still use the world "coloured".
Sounds like a great film the one you mentioned. Have you seen "Kidulthood" ? That was a gritty film that focused on young black teenagers in London from 3 years ago or so.
Oh thanks for that aulelia--I LOVE when someone recommends a film that I am not familiar with.
Thanks to both of you. I'd never heard of this film either. I intend to check it out and blog about it.
I was called colored by a young English Woman living in NYC when she and I worked together.
Life sure is something else.
@danielle: I'm glad you are inspired.
I don't know what I'd do if somebody called me "colored"!
NEED 2 SEE GOODBYE UNCLE TOM-CLASSIC
Hello there El P: I actually wrote about that film a few months back--and had a link to watch the full length movie on line for free....and you are right--everyone needs to see that film.
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