Sinopsis(1)
With EVELYN PREER, CHARLES D. LUCAS. Produced, written and directed by OSCAR MICHEAUX. The earliest surviving feature film directed by an American Negro. A landmark effort, using a mixed race cast, the film was released only a few years after "The Birth Of A Nation." While it could be considered "the other side of the coin," it is in no way comparable in budget or production values. In terms of a message, the story of a young black woman trying to finance a school for blacks in the South, by trying to get money in the North, was just as shocking today as it was when first released. The depiction of lynchings and the rape of black women by white men is particularly startling. (texto oficial de la distribuidora)
(más)Reseñas (1)
I am simply fascinated by the history of some movies. In the case of the first surviving film, directed by a black author, it is mainly because for 70 long years it was considered lost, until it reappeared in Spain. It was restored from the Spanish version. Unfortunately, the original English intertitles did not survive, but only Spanish translations. However, this does not change anything about the film itself, which deals with racial issues and the oppression of black people that was still going on at that time. The runtime seems to be complete, although it was censored at the time. It's not surprising. There are scenes that are quite intense for their time, they would just be better if they weren't so exaggerated. However, what spoils the impression is the quality of the image, but also the acting performances, for example. Seeing the film as propaganda is foolish; I would rather see it as an attempt to defend and show that racial problems simply exist and persist in society. Nevertheless, it is true that this is not something that is easy to watch today.
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