'Ailey' Gives Audiences A Glimpse Of the Renowned Choreographer Who Infused Memory Into Movement

When Ailey opens, the late Cicely Tyson comes into focus, standing glorious and regal on stage at the Kennedy Center for the Arts honoring the famed dancer and choreographer. Even then, at the tail end of his life, Alvin Ailey’s legacy both in the dance world and in the Black community was thunderous. 

Though he was an honoree at the Kennedy Center Honors just 30 years after founding the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, not much was known about the reclusive dancer and choreographer’s personal life or past. Using his own words, never-before-seen interviews, archival footage, and accounts from those closest to him like Robert Battle, Carmen de Lavallade, and Judith Jamison, filmmaker Jamila Wignot unveils a figure for whom dancing and movement was like air and water. 

Continue reading at ESSENCE.

Review: 'Fatherless' Is One Man's Humorous & Honest Quest To Find His Father And Eviscerate Statistics

For decades, the Black community has been beaten over the head with statistics and reports surrounding the absence of Black fathers within the community. There have been dissertations and investigations about the impact that single-parent households have on Black people as a whole. However, these statistics often seem to ignore the entire picture. In fact, when stacked up against white America, these numbers are nearly even. 33% of Black fathers live with at least one of their kids in comparison to 36% of white fathers. Also, though 70% of Black babies are born to unmarried mothers as opposed to 35% of white babies, only 50% of long-term couples in the United States are actually legally married. Paperwork or lack thereof does not necessarily negate fatherhood. In his heartfelt and often humorous documentary, “Fatherless,” “Grace and Frankie” actor and comedian Baron Vaughn, explores his own life without his biological father as he goes on a quest in search for the man he’s never met. Raised by his mother, grandmother and maternal great- grandparents, Baron grew up in the 1980’s at a time when Blackness in America, particularly in the midst of the crack cocaine epidemic and the war on drugs was under attack. Baron recalls idolizing comedians, Richard Pryor, Robert Townsend, Eddie Murphy, the Wayans, and Bill Cosby, who all became theoretical father figures to him. And yet, it was his great-grandfather, Poppa Richard, a towering Baptist deacon who raised him during his early youth, that made the most formidable impression on him. A man who built his home with his bare hands, Baron recalls worshiping his great-grandfather and clinging on to him and the church community that welcomed him with open arms.

Continue reading at Shadow and Act.

Review: 'What Happened, Miss Simone' Leaves Us Wondering What Happens When What You Love Most, Haunts You

Iconic cultural figures are often placed on pedestals. They remain mysterious to us and we are left to speculate about their lives and experiences. It is rare for someone who has been so revered and idolized globally to have the opportunity to share their own story. Using Nina Simone’s own words, interviews with her family and friends, as well as footage from her life, Academy Award nominated director Liz Garbus paints a portrait of a woman who was both a master, and a victim of her time. Nina Simone’s life was one of both unimaginable success and gut wrenching suffering.

Reflecting back on life is no easy feat, it’s often a painful task to undertake, leaving the subject vulnerable and exposed; their flawless image forever riddled with unpleasant truths. And yet, when these truths are brought to light, it is the humanity of that subject that shines through.

"What Happened, Miss Simone?" acts as an introduction for new fans of Nina Simone, while providing a deeper understanding of the songstress for long time supporters. The film chronicles Nina Simone from her humble beginnings to her modest end.

Garbus’ documentary works so well because of its structure. Simone was a woman who desired more than the world was willing to give. Garbus eschews typical documentary style filmmaking, allowing Simone’s own perspective on her own work and life to shine through. Though her voice was glorious, her real forte was her ability to embody revolution through her music. Despite push-back, Nina Simone’s musical contributions to society during the Civil Right’s movement, gave her drive and purpose.

Continue reading at Shadow and Act.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moOQXZxriKY[/embed]

Image: "What Happened, Miss Simone?"/Netflix

ABFF 2015 Review: 'In My Father’s House' Is a Powerful Work on Family, Abuse and Fatherhood

Statistics say that 75% of Black children are born in single-family households, a number that has increased exponentially since the 1960s. Directors Annie Sundberg and Ricki Stern’s surprisingly bold documentary "In My Father’s House" follows Che ‘Rhymefest’ Smith as he embarks on a journey to find his absentee father, a man that he never knew. After buying the house that his father grew up in, Che is suddenly desperate to learn about the man who is responsible for his existence.

At first glance, the subject seems rather tiresome and cliché. Another Black man without a father, Che defied the odds and left behind his rough Chicago neighborhood and found major success in music. (He co-wrote “Jesus Walks” with Kanye West and “Glory” with Common and John Legend.) However, when Che finally does reconnect with his father, he finds him living on the street a few blocks from his home. Brian Tillman is a destitute man; he’s an alcoholic who has been living on the streets of Chicago for the past twenty years. And yet, despite his circumstances, Brian brings light humor and warmth to an otherwise devastating subject matter. He’s charismatic and extremely intelligent, but also somehow broken, either by the cycle of Black oppression or something equally as sinister.

A Chicago native, it was thrilling to see the real Chi-town on screen. The film showed neighborhoods and places that were familiar to me, it didn’t focus on the glitz and glam of downtown. The documentary felt authentic because it didn't smooth over the grit and ugliness of the city. Like "Hoop Dreams" (1994) and "Cooley High" (1975) the city wasn’t simply a backdrop in the story. The harsh winters, segregation and violence all honestly played a part in the story. Brian lived and thrived on the streets and the camera was right there with him.

Continue Reading at Shadow and Act.

Image: 'In My Father's House' Film