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Genre
Documentary
Director
Raoul Peck
Country
USA
Cast
Samuel L. Jackson
Wonderfully narrated by Samuel L. Jackson, Raoul Peck's film tells the words of James Baldwin, an African-American novelist and activist - of whom I've never heard before, probably because I'm not American -, focusing on his thought on the civil right movement, on the precarious conditions of African-Americans and his relationships with Medgar Evers, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.
This documentary is a real eye opener on what happened in the American past - that's why everyone should watch it, regardless of your skin colour, age or country. It's a past people want to move on from and maybe forget which brings me to the sad conclusion that this film is also a reminder that America is still living in the 1960s. You watch the news and all you can see is race relations getting worse each day.
Peck's film doesn't only make a strong and powerful commentary on racism, but it's also visually beautiful. Peck meticulously selected and organised the visual material, making the film even stronger as he aligned photos and videos of the past with photos and videos of the present, opposing - although I feel like mirroring is more appropriate - yesterday and today's race relations and police brutality.
Storyline
Writer James Baldwin tells the story of race in modern America with his unfinished novel, Remember This House.Opinion
I have never been into documentaries. I always thought they were boring and not interesting. But obviously, I was wrong, as I Am Not Your Negro proved me. This documentary not only is not boring, but it's easily one of the most interesting and powerful films I've ever seen.Wonderfully narrated by Samuel L. Jackson, Raoul Peck's film tells the words of James Baldwin, an African-American novelist and activist - of whom I've never heard before, probably because I'm not American -, focusing on his thought on the civil right movement, on the precarious conditions of African-Americans and his relationships with Medgar Evers, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.
This documentary is a real eye opener on what happened in the American past - that's why everyone should watch it, regardless of your skin colour, age or country. It's a past people want to move on from and maybe forget which brings me to the sad conclusion that this film is also a reminder that America is still living in the 1960s. You watch the news and all you can see is race relations getting worse each day.Peck's film doesn't only make a strong and powerful commentary on racism, but it's also visually beautiful. Peck meticulously selected and organised the visual material, making the film even stronger as he aligned photos and videos of the past with photos and videos of the present, opposing - although I feel like mirroring is more appropriate - yesterday and today's race relations and police brutality.
Great review! I agree this was a good and very important doc. I'm annoyed at how long it took me to actually find it. The release this film got in the U.S was laughable.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteWhat an amazing blog! Very nice review!
ReplyDeleteI followed your blog, and I would sincerely appreciate it if you checked out my book reviews blog at https://elsbookreviews.blogspot.ca/ and possibly give it a follow as well! Excited to read more of your posts!
- El
Thank you!
DeleteI plan on watching this real soon. I've heard it is fantastic and essential. As far as docs go, there are lots of good ones out there, though. A couple of recommendations:
ReplyDelete13th - A powerful examination of race and how The Emancipation Proclamation (the 13th Amendment) contributed to the US having the largest prison population in the world.
The Impostor - A guy who gets picked up by the police in Spain claims to be the same boy who disappeared from his family in Texas three years earlier. One of the most bizarre things I've ever seen.
Exit Through the Gift Shop - A guy hangs around street artists trying to make a documentary about them, somehow becomes a star artist himself.
The Invisible War - A look at how a culture of sexual assault has festered in the U.S. military.
Searching for Sugar Man - An obsure American folk singer from the 1970s somehow became a legend in South Africa in the 90s. Some journalist from that country decide to try and find the singer who has been rumored to have committed suicide live on stage.
How to Survive a Plague - The movie that topped my list of greatest LGBT movies.
13th and Exit Through the Gift Shop are already on my watchlist. I'll check out the others as well. Thanks for the suggestions!
DeleteLike you, I don't really watch documentaries often. Only on occasion if the historical topic at hand is one particularly interesting to me. I have always found Civil Rights interesting, and knowing this one even blew away you who doesn't like documentaries much has made me know I will definitely give it a try.
ReplyDeleteYou really should watch it. Actually, I think everyone should watch it.
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