Friday, May 18, 2007

'Inglan Is A Bitch'

'Inglan Is A Bitch': Step Forward Youth Day of Film and Discussions - A tribute to John La Rose.

This Sunday 20th May from 2pm till late at Camberwell Squatted Centre, some great films (all for the cost of a donation):

SWEET SWEETBACK'S BAADASSSSS SONG (1971 Dir. Melvin Van Peebles): A controversial and landmark classic of Black Cinema and independent film-making: a celebration of urban black power - the story of a black street hustler turned revolutionary who goes on the run after killing tworacist cops. A journey through the dark heart of 1970s urban America.

BURNING AN ILLUSION, (UK 1981 Dir Menelik Shabazz): A film about transformation and identity, much of it shot around theNotting Hill and Ladbroke Grove communities; a love story tracing the emotional and political growth of a young black couple in Thatcher's London. The first British film to give a central voice to a black woman, charting her journey to emotional maturity, emancipation and politicalawakening.

BABYLON, UK/Italy (1980 Dir Franco Rosso): Set mainly in South London, Babylon presents a portrait of the young black community in London different from the tabloid stereotype. These black people are not muggers, rapists or chronic thieves. They are ordinary young black guys at the sharp end of inner city survival with dreams and fears of ordinary young people in general, their lives are hemmed in by the predictability of poverty, disillusion and the randomness of violencethat can erupt at any time.

BLOOD AH GOH RUN, (Dir: Menelik Shabazz, 1982): Short 'newsfilm' looking back at the events of 1981, beginning with the killing of 13 young black people in New Cross, London. The film goes on to show the anger this aroused among black people, and their march in demonstration - `The Black People's Day of Action'. Also covers the Brixton riots.

THE DREAM TO CHANGE THE WORLD, (Dir: Horace Ové): Horace Ové's film about John La Rose, drawing on the visual archive of past events in the history of Trinidad's diaspora to tell the story of John La Rose's life. Having been involved in workers' rights movements in Trinidad in the 1940s and 1950s, La Rose settled in London and became anactive member of Britain's black community in the early 1960s, foundingNew Beacon Books and the Caribbean Artists' Movement.For the first time, La Rose discusses his life story, which is captured on film by the Trinidadian photographer and film-maker Horace Ové who made the 1968 classic film Baldwin's Nigger and the first black feature film Pressure (1974).

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