From Blues to Jazz, R&B to rap, Rock n Roll to Gospel. Not a single form of music in America has not been touch, expanded, or created by African Americans. So it is no surprise then that when it comes to movies that feature African Americans music is vital to the experience. But I have never seen a movie trailer where the music is the driving theme of the plot. Until now.
Don't let the trailer fool you though. There is much more to the film. It is a trip through 6 relationships that are all connected in Los Angeles. It's a 1-day journey into Black sexuality. And that is a subject that really has not be dealt with in movies. Nor has a Black film so closely modeled music.
There have been films with Black sex, or relationships, or marriage as the driving theme. But not sexuality, sensuality. What is sexy, what is beautiful. It's a slow European-style dance of humanity. As director Dennis Dortch says
"It's a Black art house film."
This film did well at Sundance. It looks to take Black cinema in a new direction as has been stated. I find both of those things intriguing. And I have to laugh because only in Hollywood and the media could the thought of African Americans be so limited as to be defined by what has appeared on televisions and movie screens.
This film probably won't get overly wide distribution, which is a shame. It looks good enough to deserve as much of a chance as any other film, and honestly considering what has been out for most of this year, more. And if it does well I'm sure it will open avenues and get Dortch more opportunities like Spike Lee and Tyler Perry have deservedly gotten.
I say this is a good film to see. Because it is different. Because it goes in a direction no one is looking. Because it is expressing more than the normal media restrictions. And that is almost always a good thing.
If you do get the chance to see the film let me know your thoughts. I'll be looking for it myself, and will give more details then. Look for it on December 5, 2008.
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