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Sergio sent this email to me today. I love to learn about new Black filmmakers and share them with you. This one seems to be making a bit of a splash, and he has one of the coolest names ever:
IW-
So have you heard that the big new film that's getting all the praise at this year's Cannes Film Festival is Hunger directed by black British filmmaker Steve McQueen? (Of course NOT to be confused with the famous actor with the same name) This McQueen is a highly praised modern visual artist in the U.K. and Europe and Hunger is his first film. (I've attached a photo of him below) I've sent you a link to Variety's review of his film and a comments from Variety's Anne Thompson from her blog about the movie.
The last African-American filmmaker I can think of who got praised at Cannes for his film was Spike Lee and that was some years ago. We being left in the dust.
Sergio
Variety review
Thompson On Hollywood:
"This is a talented new filmmaker, hugely gifted, visual and daring. The story of an IRA hunger strike in a Belfast prison is rough to sit through. McQueen throws everything in your face. But he does it with style. And Michael Fassbender--who appears to come close to really starving himself-- is a new star. He's going to play Heathcliff in a new version of Wuthering Heights. I doubt that anyone in the states will pick Hunger up. This is about discovering new talent. There was a rousing ovation from the press; Brit McQueen may be a strong candidate for the Camera d'Or, the prize for first-time filmmakers."
From IW: So if this film and the filmmaker are so great, why won't it get picked up in the states? Is it the subject matter--or the fact that the director is black, and not only Black, but has the nerve to be dark complected too?
We get films in America with dark subject matter regularly, and I get the feeling that if this movie were made by someone like Terrence Malick, we would be reading something different. I am so very, very sick of us being regulated into some f**ked up box. This is one of the very films we need to have shown in the U.S., that shows the versatility and diversity of what a Black filmmaker is capable of.
10 comments:
oh this sounds very interesting. thank you 4 highlighting some black UK heads here!
I agree IW, especially about Malick who shows up every decade or so. We keep getting marginalized no matter what. My right eye is going to start twitching, so I'm gonna let this go for now.
I wish there was a trailer, but related
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/film-and-tv/news/hollywood-embraces-britains-black-film-talent-825413.html
Thanks for the info on this new director. Maybe, just maybe, the film will get picked up in the U.S.
Despite what sounds like a "challenging" film to watch, I think if there's enough critical acclaim bestowed upon the film, it'll get picked up. I also think the fact that the filmmaker is black (considering the subject matter) could generate some unexpected, but much needed press for the film, and a resourceful marketing department could find ways to exploit that for the better. If it does get picked up, I'd expect a very limited release. Films with similar subject matter haven't done very well in this country, and have done better elsewhere.
@Auleleia: please check out Janice's link above in the comments---interesting info on the UK filmmakers...
@danielle: I have a whole rant in the future about all of the money and perks thrown at a director like Malick...indeed, it does make the blood boil.
@janice: thanks for that! :-) Interesting read--I'm going to link to it in a post
@nic: hopefully there are those out there that don't feel like that Thompson lady...
@obenson: you'll get no argument from me on that comment, that's for sure...
I hate the marginalization too. HATE it. And from a totally random standpoint, I love Malick's work. LOL. Thanks for highlighting this new filmmaker. I'll have to look out for this. Also, in reference to a critically acclaimed movie getting picked up, one such as this, one from a Black filmmaker/director/writer/etc. I have to wonder of the fate of Neo Ned. Do you all recall the film? The film which is now set to go to friggin' dvd? It never got picked up, I don't think. I think it did run the circuit route, but talk about an 'interesting' story involving 'us' that's not typical, that's artistic, that's left of middle, that's just crazy ya know?
I get mad too, particularly this weekend when a friend let me borrow Season 3 of Battlestar Galactica. Carl Lumbly guess-starred on one of the episodes. His character's name (flight name): BullDog, a former pilot who knew Adama back in the day who was taken captive by the cylons and held in a cage. Okay...
Then there's one of the seven cylons, a brother, who in one episode was captured by Galactica, he and some other cylons who'd fallen ill with some cylon-sickness. They brought this brother before the President and Adama IN SHACKLES and NECK CHAINS. I was thrown back to friggin' Beloved and other movies that truly showed, depicted how Blacks were mangled and shackled and shuffled along. Keep in mind this cylon WAS SICK; already weak. WHY the extra irons especially when 6 troopers held him at gunpoint. I was so mad at that!
My point? In the world of sci-fi and fantasy BLACK PEOPLE exist and have more of a role than what is depicted (however it's depicted) on these shows. I got to thinking about Erykah Badu and that one track on her "New Amerykah" album where the characters speak in Kemetic tongue or whatever. And George Clinton and the mothership and Octavia Butler and Bootsy Collins and Will Smith I Am Legend.....
I'm rambling but this show and friggin' "Heroes" lately have just pissed me off. We get some representation but not enough. Someone needs to write a total BLACK sci-fi screenplay, hell, adapt a Butler novel. Something! And cast Erykah Badu and Andre 3000! LOLOLOL Sorry for the rant, thanks for the info on this new face in the industry :)
Neo Ned is on dvd now, but i haven't seen it in rental shop and netflix has a long waiting list.
oh yeah, madame d here is another link discussing what you (I and alot of people).
http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2008/05/17/a_black_hole/
@madame z: I might have to post your comment---great thoughts.
@janice--thanks for posting that link, and regarding Neo Ned---it is getting talked about so much without anyone actually seeing it, that I am wondering why the distributors are slacking so hard...dumbasses.
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