Cinema of Burkina Faso

Background on Burkina Faso What is now Burkina Faso has been continuously inhabited for at least 14,000 years. The main indigenous population of this Sahelian region were the Yonyonse, who remained for thousands of years until they were displaced by the Mossi people of what is now Ghana only a thousand years ago. The Mossi … Continue reading Cinema of Burkina Faso

Senegalese Film

During the Colonial era, cinematic images of Africa and its people were entirely the work of Western filmmakers. The Tarzan movies, African Queen, King Solomon's Mines and others were usually filmed on soundstages half a world away from Africa and made little to no effort toward authenticity, instead trading in exoticism aimed primarily at exploiting … Continue reading Senegalese Film

Black History Month & Black Cinema

  1915 Birth of a Nation was released. It was the most profitable American film of all time until Disney's Snow White & the Seven Dwarves (1937). In this critical darling, director D.W. Griffith dramatically depicts a mid-19th century south plagued by mulattos and abolitionists who scheme to keep the white man down and raise … Continue reading Black History Month & Black Cinema

Happy New Year! Or, Stay Home and Watch a New Year’s Eve-Centric Movie

After the Thin Man (entire film)   https://dailymotion.com/video/x1urcgk Ирония судьбы, или С лёгким паром! (Part 1 of 2)     Metropolitan (trailer) New Year's Evil (entire film) Rudolph's Shiny New Year (entire film) Terror Train (trailer) Вовочка (trailer)                           ***** Eric Brightwell is an adventurer, … Continue reading Happy New Year! Or, Stay Home and Watch a New Year’s Eve-Centric Movie

Happy Thanksgiving — The evolution of Thanksgiving

December 4, 1619. 38 Brits got together in Charles Cittie. Captain John Woodleaf spake, "Wee ordaine that the day of our ships arrival at the place assigned for plantacon in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually keept holy as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty god." Wahunsenacawhk , Matoaka, and John Rolfe They … Continue reading Happy Thanksgiving — The evolution of Thanksgiving

Lars and the Real Girl — Finally an Idiot Man-Child Film I Wasn’t Crazy About

                  Lars... whoops- David Arquette                                                               The real Lars In Lars and the Real Girl, Ryan Gosling plays a shy loner who is henpecked by nagging family and friends determined to … Continue reading Lars and the Real Girl — Finally an Idiot Man-Child Film I Wasn’t Crazy About

Cinéma Direct vs. Cinéma Verité – The Quest for Cinematic Truth

Today marks the one billionth time the term "cinéma vérité" was used in a manner with which I don't agree. This time it was in reference to a shaky-cam advertisement for blue jeans or cell phones or something. Cinéma Direct Cinéma Direct is documentary genre that began in Quebec in 1958. The Quiet Revolution, a cultural … Continue reading Cinéma Direct vs. Cinéma Verité – The Quest for Cinematic Truth

marking the beginning of a new venture — or, my first post

The following is a repost of a blog which originally appeared on Amoeba Music's Amoeblog I finally got around to watching the most recent 北野 武 Takeshi Kitano dvd the other night-- 2005's Takeshis' ...   It concerns an established actor, Beat Takeshi, and his crossing paths with a struggling actor, Takeshi Kitano. A significant number … Continue reading marking the beginning of a new venture — or, my first post