[TASK 078: ZIMBABWE]
In celebration of Black History Month, here’s a masterlist below compiled of over 290+ Zimbabwean faceclaims categorised by gender with their occupation and ethnicity denoted if there was a reliable source. If you want an extra challenge use random.org to pick a random number! Of course everything listed below are just suggestions and you can pick whichever character or whichever project you desire.
Any questions can be sent here and all tutorials have been linked below the cut for ease of access! REMEMBER to tag your resources with #TASKSWEEKLY and we will reblog them onto the main! This task can be tagged with whatever you want but if you want us to see it please be sure that our tag is the first five tags, @ mention us or send us a messaging linking us to your post!
THE TASK - scroll down for FC’s!
STEP 1: Decide on a FC you wish to create resources for! You can always do more than one but who are you starting with? There are links to masterlists you can use in order to find them and if you want help, just send us a message and we can pick one for you at random!
STEP 2: Pick what you want to create! You can obviously do more than one thing, but what do you want to start off with? Screencaps, RP icons, GIF packs, masterlists, PNG’s, fancasts, alternative FC’s - LITERALLY anything you desire!
STEP 3: Look back on tasks that we have created previously for tutorials on the thing you are creating unless you have whatever it is you are doing mastered - then of course feel free to just get on and do it. :)
STEP 4: Upload and tag with #TASKSWEEKLY! If you didn’t use your own screencaps/images make sure to credit where you got them from as we will not reblog packs which do not credit caps or original gifs from the original maker.
THINGS YOU CAN MAKE FOR THIS TASK - examples are linked!
Stumped for ideas? Maybe make a masterlist or graphic of your favourite faceclaims. A masterlist of names. Plot ideas or screencaps from a music video preformed by an artist. Masterlist of quotes and lyrics that can be used for starters, thread titles or tags. Guides on culture and customs.
Screencaps
RP icons [of all sizes]
Gif Pack [maybe gif icons if you wish]
PNG packs
Manips
Dash Icons
Character Aesthetics
PSD’s
XCF’s
Graphic Templates - can be chara header, promo, border or background PSD’s!
FC Masterlists - underused, with resources, without resources!
FC Help - could be related, family templates, alternatives.
Written Guides.
and whatever else you can think of / make!
MASTERLIST!
F:
Dorothy Masuka (1935) Zimbabwean - singer.
Stella Chiweshe (1946) Zimbabwean - musician.
Sekai Nzenza-Shand (1959) Zimbabwean - writer.
Busi Ncube (1963) Zimbabwean - singer.
Rozalla Miller / Rozalla (1964) Zambian, Zimbabwean - dancer.
Leonard Zhakata (1968) Zimbabwean - singer-songwriter and dancer.
Masasa Moyo (1970) Zimbabwean / Irish, German - actress.
Eska Mtungwazi / Eska (1971) Zimbabwean - musician.
Shingisai Suluma (1971) Zimbabwean - singer-songwriter.
Petina Gappah (1971) Zimbabwean - author.
Thandie Newton (1972) Zimbabwean / English - actress.
Maggie Lloyd Williams (1975) Zimbabwean - actress.
Ivy Kombo (1975) Zimbabwean - gospel artist.
Anna Mudeka (1976) Zimbabwean - musician.
Chipo Chung (1977) Zimbabwean / Chinese - actress and activist.
Danai Gurira (1978) Zimbabwean - actress and playwright.
Kudzai Sevenzo (1979) Zimbabwean - actress and musician.
Edith WeUtonga (1979) Zimbabwean - musician.
Tinopona Katsande / Tin Tin (1979) Zimbabwean - actress, radio and television personality.
Jamelia Niela Davis / Jamelia (1981) Zimbabwean / Jamaican - actress and recording artist.
Shingai Shoniwa (1981) Zimbabwean - musician.
Fungisai Zvakavapano Mashavave (1981) Zimbabwean - musician.
Pauline Kamusewu / Pauline (1982) Zimbabwean / Italian - singer.
Mathira Mohammad / Mathira (1982) Zimbabwean / Pakistani - model, actress, singer, dancer, and hostess.
Lucia Evans (1982) Zimbabwean, Irish - singer.
Cynthia Muvirimi (1983) Zimbabwean - model.
Caroline Marufu (1983) Zimbabwean - Miss Zimbabwe World 2007.
Selmor Mtukudzi (1983) Zimbabwean - musician.
DJ Zinhle (1983) Zimbabwean - musician.
Natalie Gumede (1984) Zimbabwean - actress.
Velile Tshabalala (1984) Zimbabwean - actress.
Barbara Mamabolo (1985) Zimbabwean - actress and singer.
Prudence Mabhena (1986) Zimbabwean - singer.
Ropa Garise (1986) Zimbabwean - model.
Tarisai Vushe (1987) Zimbabwean - singer.
Vimbai Mutinhiri (1987) Zimbabwean - actress, model and television personality.
Taps Mugadza (1988) Zimbabwean - singer.
Chenegeto Brown (1988) Zimbabwean - musician.
Ruvheneko Parirenyatwa (1988) Zimbabwean - radio personality.
Silibaziso Dube / Sli Dube (1989) Zimbabwean - model.
Sibongile Mlambo (1990) Zimbabwean - actress and model.
Ericah Sabi / Empress Massina (1990) Zimbabwean - musician.
Alexandra Govere / Andra (1990) Zimbabwean, Unspecified Native American, French - singer-songwriter, producer, reality tv personality, gymnast, and journalist.
Mimi Ndiweni (1991) Zimbabwean - actress.
Sandra Muchaneta Gazi / Lady Squanda (1991) Zimbabwean - actress.
Kristine Musademba (1992) Zimbabwean / Filipina - ice skater.
Moe Makaya (1992) Zimbabwean - model.
Letwin Tatenda Tiwaringe (1992) Zimbabwean - model.
Shalvin Kundai Chakwada / Empress Shelly (1992) Zimbabwean - musician.
Tinashe Kachingwe / Tinashe (1993) Zimbabwean / Irish, Norwegian, Danish, English - singer, dancer, actress and director.
Lynette Lisa Musenyi / Bounty Lisa (1993) Zimbabwean - musician.
Scola Dondo / Strawberry Ripples Let's Get Healthy (1995) Zimbabwean - youtuber.
Tkay Maidza (1996) Zimbabwean - singer-songwriter.
Thando Sikwila (?) Zimbabwean - singer-songwriter and actress.
Yolanda Yona (?) Zimbabwean - model and beauty pageant contestant.
Catherine Makaya (?) Zimbabwean - model and beauty pageant contestant.
Charity Zisengwe (?) Zimbabwean - singer-songwriter.
Nyasha Matonhodze (?) Zimbabwean - model.
Carol Mujokoro (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Michelle Wallace (?) Zimbabwean - model.
Violet Makunike / Viomak (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Tholakele Dlamini (?) Zimbabwean - model.
Sibo Bero (?) Zimbabwean - model.
Hannah Chikosi-Mapepeta (?) Zimbabwean - singer-songwriter.
Rosanna Hall (?) Zimbabwean - model.
Teurai Chanakira (?) Zimbabwean - model.
Olivia Charamba / Mai Charamba (?) Zimbabwean -
RuTendo DeNise (?) Zimbabwean - model.
Sophia Leonie (?) Zimbabwean / English, German - actress.
Charmaine Bingwa (?) Zimbabwean - actress.
Chiedza Mhende (?) Zimbabwean - actress.
Portia Gwanzura (?) Zimbabwean - singer.
Ginny Holder (?) Zimbabwean - actress.
Melissa Mashiki (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Pokello Nare (?) Zimbabwean - reality star.
Ammara Brown (?) Zimbabwean - musician and actress.
Hope Masike (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
King Lo / Locnation (?) Zimbabwean - producer.
Mbo Mahocs (?) Zimbabwean - socialite.
Candice Mwakalyelye (?) Zimbabwean - radio personality.
Daruler / Mambokadzi (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Nonku Vundla / Black Bird (?) Zimbabwean - rapper.
Kimberley Robinson (?) Zimbabwean - model.
Greatmore Chatya (?) Zimbabwean - model.
Rachel Stuart (?) Zimbabwean - model.
Nicole Ncube (?) Zimbabwean - model.
Natasha Ndlovu (?) Zimbabwean - model.
Petronella Tayamika Mahachi / Taya (?) Zimbabwean - fashion designer.
Nomathamsanqa Mkwananzi / Nkwali (?) Zimbabwean - fashion designer.
Pah Chihera (?) Zimbabwean - model.
Linda Gabriel (?) Zimbabwean - poet.
Namatai Mubariki (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Bethany Pasinawako-Ngolomi (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Chiedza Babra Maswera / Blacperl (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Bonnie Deuschle (?) Zimbabwean - musician and author.
Dorothy Karengo / Darula (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Tariro Kadandara / Queen Kadjah (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Everjoy Takudzwa Kawadza / Eve Kawadza (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Edeline Mapuranga / Juwela (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Lady Storm (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
M:
Joseph Magundwane / Mechanic Manyeruke (1942)
Thomas Mapfumo (1945) Zimbabwean - singer-songwriter.
Sam Mangwana (1945) Zimbabwean / Angolan - musician.
Dominic Kanaventi (1950) Zimbabwean - actor.
Oliver Mtukudzi / Tuku (1952) Zimbabwean - guitarist.
Cosmas Magaya (1953) Zimbabwean - mbira player.
Lovemore Majaivana (1954) Zimbabwean - musician.
Jonathan Wutawunashe (1955) Zimbabwean - keyboardist, guitarist, and songwriter.
Bob Nyabinde (1955) Zimbabwean - musician.
Zeke Manyika (1955) Zimbabwean - drummer and singer-songwriter.
Louis Mhlanga (1956) Zimbabwean - guitarist, singer, and producer.
Solomon Skuza (1956) Zimbabwean - musician.
Tendayi Gahamadze (1959) Zimbabwean - mbira player and songwriter.
Peter Muparutsa (1959) Zimbabwean - musician.
Garikayi Tirikoti (1961) Zimbabwean - mbira player.
Keith Thompson (1962) Zimbabwean - musician.
Chirikure Chirikure (1962) Zimbabwean - songwriter, poet, and writer.
Albert Nyathi (1962) Zimbabwean - poet.
Forward Kwenda (1963) Zimbabwean - mbira player.
Alick Macheso (1968) Zimbabwean - singer-songwriter, guitarist, bassist, and dancer.
Leonard Zhakata (1968) Zimbabwean - musician.
Calvin Gudu (1968) Zimbabwean - musician.
Josphat Somanje (1968) Zimbabwean - musician.
Edgar Langeveldt (1969) Zimbabwean - actor, singer-songwriter, and comedian.
Charles Mudede (1969) Zimbabwean - filmmaker.
Musekiwa Chingodza (1970) Zimbabwean - mbira and marimba player.
Clive Mukundu (1970) Zimbabwean - musician.
Christopher Mlalazi (1970) Zimbabwean - writer.
Daniel Dumile / MF Doom (1971) Zimbabwean / Trinidadian - recording artist and producer.
Connie M’Gadzah (1971) Zimbabwean - actor.
Ignatius Mabasa (1971) Zimbabwean - musician, writer, and storyteller.
Willbroad Muponda / Willom Tight (1971) Zimbabwean - musician.
Charles Charamba (1971) Zimbabwean - musician and songwriter.
Allan Chimbetu (1972) Zimbabwean - musician.
Brian Chikwava (1972) Zimbabwean - musician and writer.
Sabhuku Vharazipi / David Mubaiwa (1973) Zimbabwean = socialite, actor, writer and comedian.
Herbert Schwamborn (1973) Zimbabwean / German - producer and rapper.
Victor Kunonga (1974) Zimbabwean - singer-songwriter.
Sean Fletcher (1974) Zimbabwean / English - journalist and radio personality.
Ramadu (1975) Zimbabwean - musician.
Togara Muzanenhamo (1975) Zimbabwean - poet.
Adam Croasdell (1976) Zimbabwean - actor.
Audius Mtawarira (1977) Zimbabwean - singer-songwriter.
Progress Chipfumo (1977) Zimbabwean - singer and guitarist.
Alexio Kawara (1978) Zimbabwean - musician.
Blessing Shumba (1978) Zimbabwean - musician.
Dino Mudondo (1978) Zimbabwean - musician.
David Chifunyise / D-va (1979) Zimbabwean - musician and songwriter.
Leroy Gopal (1979) Zimbabwean - actor.
Buffalo Souljah (1980) Zimbabwean - musician and songwriter.
Alishias Musimbe / Maskiri (1980) Zimbabwean - rapper.
Obi Mhondera (1980) Zimbabwean - songwriter and producer.
Desmond Chideme / Stunner (1980) Zimbabwean - musician.
Nyasha Hatendi (1981) Zimbabwean - actor and producer.
Tongayi Chirisa (1981) Zimbabwean - actor and musician.
Peter Mujuru / Mashasha (1982) Zimbabwean - guitarist, bassist, percussionist, singer-songwriter, and producer.
Sulumani Chimbetu (1982) Zimbabwean - musician.
M. K. Asante (1982) Zimbabwean - author, filmmaker, recording artist, and professor.
Eric Moyo (1982) Zimbabwean - singer.
Lamont Chitepo (1982) Zimbabwean - musician.
Ngonidzashe Kambarami / Ngonie (1983) Zimbabwean - singer, guitarist, keyboardist, and drummer.
Dereck Chisora (1983) Zimbabwean - boxer.
Ngoni Kambarami (1983) Zimbabwean - musician.
Tawanda Sibotshiwe / Jusa Dementor (1983) Zimbabwean - musician and producer.
Winky D (1983) Zimbabwean - musician.
Leonard Mapfumo (1983) Zimbabwean - rapper.
Michael Mahendere / Mic Inity (1983) Zimbabwean - musician.
Tinashe Fazakerley / Rationale (1984) Zimbabwean - singer-songwriter.
Mkhululi Bhebhe (1984) Zimbabwean - singer.
Shingirai Kaserera / Sugaspott (1984) Zimbabwean - rapper.
Flint Bedrock (1985) Zimbabwean - singer-songwriter.
Desire Sibanda / Dizzy Dee (1985) Zimbabwean - musician.
Sanii Makhalima (1985) Zimbabwean - musician.
Rockford Josphat (1985) Zimbabwean - musician.
Simbarashe Muswere / Mystik Becyad (1985) Zimbabwean - musician.
Munya Chidzonga (1985) Zimbabwean - actor and filmmaker.
Tehn Diamond (1985) Zimbabwean - rapper and singer-songwriter.
Rockford Josphat / Roki (1985) Zimbabwean, Malagasy - singer-songwriter, dancer, and actor.
Terrence Kudakwashe Tichapondwa / Tryt (1986) Zimbabwean - musician.
Radzi Chinyanganya (1986) Zimbabwean / Scottish - presenter.
Rudi Schwamborn / Carlprit (1986) Zimbabwean / German - rapper.
Jah Prayzah (1987) Zimbabwean - musician.
Mukudzeyi Mukombe (1987) Zimbabwean - musician.
Abraham Wilson (1987) Zimbabwean - musician.
Martin Tawanda Gosha / Kazmik Chamakanda (1988) Zimbabwean - musician.
Pacharo Mzembe (1988) Zimbabwean - actor.
Biggie Tembo Jr. (1988) Zimbabwean - musician.
Mathias Mhere (1988) Zimbabwean - musician.
Energy Sylvester Chizanga / Free,am (1988) Zimbabwean - musician.
Prince Kudakwashe Musarurwa (1988) Zimbabwean - singer-songwriter.
Tendekai Philemon Tati / Madzitatiguru (1989) Zimbabwean - spoken word artist, slam poet, writer, and comedian.
Gerald Masanga / Jerry B (1989) Zimbabwean - musician.
Alfred Nenguwo (1989) Zimbabwean - singer-songwriter.
Regé-Jean Page (1990) Zimbabwean - actor.
Emmanuel Manyeruke / Guspy Warrior (1990) Zimbabwean - musician.
Nyabulo Mayibongwe Nkomo (1990) Zimbabwean - musician.
Kelvin Kusikwenyu / Killer T (1990) Zimbabwean - musician.
Wilton Isheasnesu Doba / Legion (1990) Zimbabwean - musician.
Elisha Matarirano / Legend Elly (1990) Zimbabwean - musician.
Tinashe Gamure Munengami /Cello Culture (1990) Zimbabwean - musician.
Nib Crouch (1991) Zimbabwean - rapper.
Phillip Kembo (1991) Zimbabwean - producer.
Brian Soko (1991) Zimbabwean - songwriter and producer.
Tafadzwa Mwandira / Celscius (1991) Zimbabwean - musician.
Lovejoy Matare / L kat (1991) Zimbabwean - rapper and lyricist.
Matthew C. Martino (1992) Zimbabwean - actor and producer.
Obey Makamure / Tocky Vibes (1993) Zimbabwean - musician and songwriter.
Darlington Zhanje / Dhadza D (1993) Zimbabwean - musician.
Maligakini Saizi / Kinnah (1993) Zimbabwean - musician.
Gary Tight (1994) Zimbabwean - musician.
Godknows Shumba / Magical (1994) Zimbabwean - musician.
Tinotenda Chitapa (1995) Zimbabwean - musician.
Kelvin Jones (1995) Zimbabwean - singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.
Gift Lihlohonolo Ndlovu (1996) Zimbabwean - musician.
Takura Chiwoniso / Blot (1996) Zimbabwean - musician.
McDon Vladmire Woodburn / Mcy Ghost (1998) Zimbabwean - musician.
Fisher Masango (?) Zimbabwean - model.
Alton Edwards (?) Zimbabwean, British - singer.
Zuva Martens (?) Zimbabwean / Dutch - actor and comedian.
Mathias Muzaza (?) Zimbabwean - singer and percussionist (Mokoomba).
Trustworth Samende (?) Zimbabwean - singer and guitarist (Mokoomba).
Abundance Mutori (?) Zimbabwean - singer and bassist (Mokoomba).
Ndaba Coster Moyo (?) Zimbabwean - singer and drummer (Mokoomba).
Miti Mugande (?) Zimbabwean - singer and percussionist (Mokoomba).
Donald Moyo (?) Zimbabwean - singer and keyboardist (Mokoomba).
Kwayedza Kureya / Kwaye (?) Zimbabwean - singer-songwriter.
Tiwai Muza (?) Zimbabwean - actor.
Rise Kagonaa (?) Zimbabwean - guitarist.
Takura Tendayi / Takura (?) Zimbabwean - singer-songwriter.
Kenny Chitsvatsva (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Shakespeare "Shakie" Kangwena (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Chartwell Dutiro (?) Zimbabwean - mbira player.
Kudaushe Matimba (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Tendayi Jembere (?) Zimbabwean - actor.
Steve Makoni (?) Zimbabwean - guitarist, songwriter, and comedian.
Kwasi Songui (?) Zimbabwean - actor.
Mr. Lion / Gazzully (?) Zimbabwean - DJ.
Clemmence Rice (?) Zimbabwean - bass mbira player (Mbira dzeNharira).
Chaka Chakandika (?) Zimbabwean - kalimba player (Mbira dzeNharira).
Takawira Devera (?) Zimbabwean - lead mbira player (Mbira dzeNharira).
Tendai Kazuru (?) Zimbabwean - hosho player (Mbira dzeNharira).
Mudiwa Hood (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Douglas Vambe (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Ngugi Vere (?) Zimbabwean - fashion designer.
Enock Munhenga / ExQ (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Syfo fame (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Clyde Macathur Chirikure / Clyde Banks (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
T Makwikwi (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Antony Munetsi Matambanadzo / mUnetsi (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Lloyd Charles Muponda / King Labash (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Tawanda Zarzu Tichareva (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Tinashe Makura (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Kudzayi Mhlanga (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Thembani Mubochwa (?) Zimbabwean - fashion designer.
Ara Kani (?) Zimbabwean - fashion designer.
Doc Vikela (?) Zimbabwean - comedian.
Calvin / Cal_Vin (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Michael Kudakwashe (?) Zimbabwean - actor and comedian.
Muzi Mangena (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Dumi Maraire Jr / Draze (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Zadzisai Chikwanyanga / G.I.L (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Ian Makiwa / Platinum Prince (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Nicholas Muchinguri / POY (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Sam Dondo (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Tinashe Gonzara / Ti Gonzi (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Trevor Dongo (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Blessed Zikhali / 8L (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Willis Afrika Wataffi (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Baba Harare (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Newton Gwanangura / Badman (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Albert Mushore / Boom Beto (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Brian Sibalo (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Calisto Nyamhute (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Calvin Malunga / Crystal (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Daniel Mazhindu / Decibel (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Delani Makhalima (?) Zimbabwean - musician and producer.
Dereck Mpofu (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Tamuka Mponda-Makuluni / DJ Tamuka (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Dumalisile Mehlomakhulu (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Douglas Chimbetu (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Fungai Paradzayi / Fun F (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Resilience Chekera / GZE (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Bessel Mugo Parewa / Hwindi Prezident (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Jah Child (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Jah Designer (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Jah Signal (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Jeremy Olivier (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Jonah Moyo (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Josh Kawara / Josh Kays (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Shadreck Kwarire (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Kireni Zulu (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Achieve Moyo / Krimz Beatz (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Lucky Kumene (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Shelton Tutani / Maggikal (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Ephraim Mushore / Lyrical Editor / Major E (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Masta Reins (?) Zimbabwean - musician.
Problematic:
Dizzy Dee (1985) Zimbabwean - singer-songwriter and DJ - convicted of rape.
Soul Jah Love (1989) Zimbabwean - assaulted wife.
Washington Kavhai (?) Zimbabwean - musician - convicted of rape.
Tawanda Manyimo (?) Zimbabwean - actor - played a Japanese character in Ghost In The Shell when he is not Japanese.
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New Post has been published on http://www.news-twitter.com/2017/01/30/la-times-sundance-racial-divisions-political-upheaval-and-a-gay-love-story-take-the-spotlight-17/
La Times: Sundance: Racial divisions, political upheaval and a gay love story take the spotlight
By the time the Sundance Film Festival came to a close Saturday night, it was clear that there had been no 2017 equivalent of “The Birth of a Nation” at the festival this year — no cinematic sensation that swooped in from nowhere to dominate the prizes, score the biggest acquisition deal and promise the industry a badly needed diversity makeover. (Happily, this year’s Academy Award nominations have spared us a three-quel to #OscarsSoWhite.)
If anything, a certain amount of caution could be detected on the part of distributors, journalists and even filmmakers, as though everyone in attendance were trying to avoid the trap of self-importance in a year when real-world matters — from President Trump’s inauguration and the women’s march to reports of a cyber attack on the festival — provided more than their fair share of off-screen drama.
Which is not to suggest that the films unveiled over 10 days in Park City, Utah, were somehow disappointing, or not up to the challenge of speaking to our politically fraught moment. Far from it. There were, as usual, movies about fractious racial divisions, including “Mudbound,” Dee Rees’ symphonic, superbly acted drama about two Mississippi families — one white, one black — struggling to survive in the shadow of World War II.
Less widely seen, although it won the audience award in the festival’s Next sidebar (devoted to innovative, low-budget work), was Justin Chon’s “Gook,” a raucous, bittersweet comedy set during the Los Angeles riots in April 1992. Shot in black-and-white, the movie both explores and sneakily subverts the fractious relations between Korean and African Americans during that tumultuous chapter.
Even apart from the confrontationally titled likes of “Trumped: Inside the Greatest Political Upset of All Time,” many of the films on offer could scarcely help engaging directly with the election and its consequences, to a surprising and mostly heartening degree.
Few of us who filed into the first screening of “Beatriz at Dinner” — director Miguel Arteta and screenwriter Mike White’s elegant, squirm-inducing dark comedy about a Mexican-born masseuse (Salma Hayek) clashing with an obscenely wealthy real-estate mogul (John Lithgow) — expected to find ourselves face-to-face with the first cinematic allegory of the Trump era. What seems at first like a too-easy skewering of racial and class divisions soon veers into richly unsettling dramatic territory, anchored by perhaps the finest, most controlled performance of Hayek’s career.
If “Beatriz at Dinner” felt so eerily timely that it might well have gone into production on Nov. 9, a number of documentaries proved no less accommodating of extremely recent headlines. “An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power,” a stirring follow-up to “An Inconvenient Truth” (2006) from directors Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk, follows Al Gore on his latest rousing crusade against climate change, then builds to a forlorn postelection shot of the former vice president vanishing into an elevator in Trump Tower.
“Nobody Speak: Trials of a Free Press,” Brian Knappenberger’s account of the legal battle between Gawker and Hulk Hogan, and how the interference of billionaires like Peter Thiel might jeopardize the 1st Amendment going forward, received its first public screening on Tuesday, which gave the filmmakers just enough time to squeeze in footage from Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration.
It was hard to watch Bryan Fogel’s entertaining Russian-doping Olympics exposé, “Icarus” — which drew the meaningfully titled “Orwell Award” from the U.S. documentary jury — without thinking about Vladimir Putin’s other alleged behind-the-scenes manipulations on a different international stage. Similarly, it was difficult to see Jonathan Olshefski’s deeply moving, years-in-the-making documentary “Quest,” about the everyday travails of a black family living in north Philadelphia, and not share his subjects’ indignation when they hear news of Trump’s birther conspiracy — a reminder of just how significant and symbolic a victory the Obama presidency remains for so many minorities in this country.
Meanwhile, over in the U.S. dramatic competition, the grand jury prize went to a violent dark comedy whose title, “I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore,” seemed to capture the political mood. But this Netflix original production, skillfully written and directed by Macon Blair, wasn’t especially political — or maybe it was, given that it focuses on a woman (the terrific Melanie Lynskey) who slowly but surely seizes control of her life, reminding the people around her that every mean, mindless action has a consequence.
Blair’s movie was scarcely the only Sundance title about a woman, or group of women, rebelling against a repressive order. The highlight of the dramatic competition, for me, was “Novitiate,” a revealing portrait of life among aspiring nuns in a 1960s convent, which earned filmmaker Maggie Betts a breakthrough director prize from the jury. Splendidly acted by an almost all-female ensemble, the film features particularly standout performances by Margaret Qualley as a sensitive young postulant, and by Melissa Leo as the convent’s not-unsympathetic Gorgon of a Reverend Mother.
Another dramatic competition entry bolstered by an actress’ superb lead turn was “Roxanne Roxanne,” Michael Larnell’s rickety but heartfelt film about the straight-out-of-Queens hip-hop legend Roxanne Shanté (Chanté Adams, who won the jury’s breakthrough performance prize). “Roxanne Roxanne” would make a fine double bill with another competition title, “Patti Cake$,” Geremy Jasper’s exultant, energetic fiction about a young New Jersey rapper (the sensational Danielle Macdonald), which became one of the festival’s big hits and was acquired by Fox Searchlight Pictures for $10.5 million.
The theme of female empowerment extended to the World Cinema dramatic competition, where one of the standouts was Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Gross’ “My Happy Family,” a beautifully crafted drama about a middle-aged Georgian woman (Ia Shugliashvili, in a remarkable big-screen debut) who makes the simple, radical decision to find her own apartment after spending years under the same roof with her husband, children and parents.
Set to screen next in February at the Berlin Film Festival, “My Happy Family” was a reminder that not every excellent film emerges from a festival with an award under its belt. Many of them, like Michael Showalter’s terrific cross-cultural, cross-generational dramedy “The Big Sick,” starring and co-written by Kumail Nanjiani (“Silicon Valley”), are not even awards-eligible at Sundance, where the competitions consist of mostly first- and second-time filmmakers. Nevertheless, “The Big Sick” got the prize it wanted: a $12-million acquisition by Amazon Studios, in one of the festival’s richest deals.
Also ineligible for Sundance awards — though its distributor, Sony Pictures Classics, is surely hoping for prizes later in the year — was “Call Me by Your Name,” Luca Guadagnino’s gay love story about the slowly growing attraction between a precocious 17-year-old (Timothée Chalamet) and his family’s academic houseguest (Armie Hammer). This was the best movie I saw at Sundance 2017, for its ravishing filmmaking as well as its piercing wisdom about the evanescence of first love. Its sun-drenched northern Italian setting couldn’t have been farther away from Park City, but “Call Me by Your Name” nonetheless captured the enduring spirit of Sundance: aesthetically bold, emotionally complex and, in ways that don’t immediately announce themselves, political to the bone.
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