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Good Life (FINAL ASSIGNMENT)
This film, Good Life, is a great film. This story utilizes score, storytelling, cinematography, and editing to tell a story about a young modern adventurer’s mission to live a good life. After learning how a humble elderly man in his community lives a good life, the protagonist decides to leave the only city he’s ever known in the hopes that he can find his happiness and also live a good life.
My favorite scene of the film is the first time the protagonist leaves his community. The cinematography in this scene was astounding. The filmmaker uses a close up to show us the emotions of the character on his face, and a zooming out arial shot to show how large the world has become for the protagonist as he steps out into new land. The aerial shot also portrays how alone the protagonist now felt without his mentor at his side, the viewers were able to see how even in a crowd of people, he was still alone without anyone at his side. While other viewers may have liked an angle other than arial, I appreciated it because it makes the viewer seem less significant and powerless. The filmmakers choices reflect how the character felt as he took the first steps outside of the community he’s lived in his whole life.
While the movie was long, the editing was not slow. The film didn’t feel long or boring like other long films I have watched previously with similar long run times. The editing helped to convey the youthfulness of the protagonist. With speedy editing, the jovial feeling of the film stayed throughout the plot. The only time the editing slowed was during the scene where the protagonist learned that his mother died and he wasn’t there to say goodbye. The editing became slower in terms of shot length, but the effects added in, like blurriness and fading, helped convey how sad the protagonist felt and how nauseous the news made him feel. I know the post-production team of this film worked tirelessly to convey the emotions of the characters through the different effects used in the film.
Some people may not have liked the amount of effects used in the film. I have heard other critics saying that it makes the film too much like a fantasy, but I enjoy the effects. The effects help you come into the world of the protagonist and how he sees his adventure to a life of happiness.
I believe that this film should be released immediately, so that during this time of quarantine, people can still live their life through movies (as we’ve all done in the past). Viewers can follow the protagonist and cope with quarantine by going on an adventure like no other. While this is also an outward journey, the protagonist explores himself also and grows wiser beyond his years.
This coming of age film features strong black characters that do not have to experience violence to grow and mature into adulthood. This movie is not always lighthearted, but you do end the film feeling lighter than when you started, which is something we all need during this time.
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Bastards of the Party
When documentaries are made about Black People and Black Culture, they’re only worth savoring and enjoying when they’re made by Black People, and Bastards of the Party is a perfect example of how enjoyable and worth savoring a Black Documentary can be. The filmmakers use storytelling to educate people now and in the future about the inner workings and the culture of Black People. There is often so much slander when it comes to Modern Black Culture and Black History. Our culture is demonized in modern and past media. If we don’t take control of our narrative now, our culture will also be demonized in the future. Bastards of the Party is a perfect example of how we can reclaim our narrative.
By taking control of the story using personal experiences and historical events, filmmaker Cle "Bone" Shaheed Sloan is able to recreate the story that white media portrays. In this documentary, Bone uses film as a means of activism. Though Black History is plagued with the worst parts of racism, greed, capitalism, and violence, Bone relies on the strength of himself, his neighborhood, and his story to tell a different version of Black History. This version is one of strength, resilience, hope, and community.
Bone recounts his stories of being ‘in the streets’ and pairs it with the narrative that White Media gave to the people of America. We can see how White Media dominated the market and saturated the world with lies about Black Violence, when Black People were only ever forced to protect themselves and their communities. The parallels drawn between the truth and white media give two different storylines in one documentary. Without having to say it, Bone is definitely calling White Media and white leaders liars without even having to lift a finger.
As a work of activism, this film calls for the end of gang wars and violent gang tendencies. This film calls for the end of holding drugs, money, and guns above the lives of the community members their organization swore to protect. While still calling out White Media, Bones is able to lead the gang community to a better way of sustaining themselves. If gangs gave as much as they took from communities, the gangs would be larger and more powerful than they are now.
Through the use of editing (more specifically, the use of L cuts, J cuts, and B roll), the story becomes more engrossing. Juxtaposing the black narrative through dialogue with the visual aspect of white media, we see the lies we were fed. Using footage of Black People coming to the rand creating stronger communities, Bones is able to reframe and reclaim our narrative.
Storytelling and editing are my two favorite parts of filmmaking, and Bastards of the Party is an activist film that does both very well. I would recommend this film to anyone looking to learn the truth about the history and culture of Black Gangs in America. Bones and his editors did a great job of morphing our history of pain transmuting into strength into a story that is easy to follow, holds your attention, and has a clear message to the youth: Rebuild Our Communities.
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PUMZI
Pumzi, a Kenyan film directed by Kenyan filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu, is the afrocentric futuristic film that I did not know I needed till I watched it. The film depicts a dystopian, post apocalyptic world in which water and organic life is scarce. My favorite parts about this movie is the symbolism, constant nods to African Spiritualism, and the depiction of Black Women in the film.
Often times in movies Black Women (honestly all black people in general) are depicted as a monolith. Our characters resemble in one way or another, feeding into stereotypes. Pumzi is a film created by a Black Woman, so her depiction of Black Women is much more authentic and diverse. Her array of characters depicts both good and bad, wise and ignorant, hopeful and lost. It was refreshing watching well developed and thought out Black characters.
The film did not rely too heavily on dialogue either, which was also refreshing. The way this filmmaker shows information instead of telling us is a skill I would soon like to gain one day. For some reason, the characters in the film did not speak directly to each other. If there was dialogue, the characters were speaking through a computer. It is never explained why, but the effect is still lasting. Even using dialogue, filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu is able to show that the citizens are disconnected from each other instead of telling us that they barely communicate and interact with each other.
I am very upset this film is so short. The storytelling and cinematography grabs your attention so much, but when it’s over you’re left with so many questions about the society created for the film. How do they get water if it’s all gone? Why does no one talk to each other? Why are dreams forbidden? Why are the leaders lying about life on the outside of their society? What other secrets are the leaders keeping? Do not be discouraged, the film is still definitely worth watching. The fact that I have so many questions proves how engrossed and carried away you can get with this film. I hope to get answers to my questions in a full length movie or sequel to this short film.
The symbolism of dreams and motif of water ties in with the nods to African Spiritualism. Both dreams and water are valued highly in African Spiritualism. Dreams can guide you, send you messages, and connect you to a deeper source. Water is replenishing, cleansing, and healing. The filmmaker used symbolism and motifs in dreams to show a deeper level of consciousness the protagonist possesses.
My least favorite part of the film is the end. Sadly, the story and voyage ends right at the beginning of a luscious forest, it ends right at the beginning of a new possibility. The film ends as it begins, with the protagonist sleeping and falling into her dreams. The cyclical manner of this film is also a nod to African Spiritualism, which often refers to everything, including the past and the future, being connected.
In conclusion, watching this short film will have you at the edge of your seat, going on a voyage along with the protagonist. The best part about this movie is the storytelling,, but the visual elements help to create the dystopian society that relies on the trash and recyclables of the past to bring them into the future. I am very pleased with this short film and cannot wait to see what else this filmmaker releases next.
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wattstax film review
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