By Hanna, Coulee City Library
Watching contemporary films during Black History Month allows readers to appreciate modern Black excellence and learn about history told through the latest techniques and familiar actors.
Here is a small selection of new films from the past year (plus one oldie but goodie!) that you can check out from the library.
Respect DVD
The life story of legendary R&B singer Aretha Franklin.
Summer of Soul DVD.
The documentary examines the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, which was held at Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park) in Harlem and lasted for six weeks. Despite having a large attendance and performers such as Stevie Wonder, Mahalia Jackson, Nina Simone, The 5th Dimension, The Staple Singers, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Blinky Williams, Sly and the Family Stone and the Chambers Brothers, the festival was seen as obscure in pop culture, something that the documentarians address.
Judas and the Black Messiah DVD
Offered a plea deal by the FBI, William O’Neal infiltrates the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party to gather intelligence on Chairman Fred Hampton. Based on a true story.
Space Jam: A New Legacy DVD
Basketball champion and global icon LeBron James goes on an epic adventure alongside Bugs Bunny in this animated/live-action event from director Malcolm D. Lee. This manic mash-up of two worlds reveals just how far some parents will go to connect with their kids. When LeBron and his young son Dom are trapped in a digital space, he must get them home safe by leading Bugs and the whole gang of notoriously undisciplined Looney Tunes to victory over a digitized, powered-up roster of professional basketball stars as never seen before.
Zola DVD
Zola, a Detroit waitress, is seduced into a weekend of partying in Florida. Her trip turns into a wild saga involving a pimp, an idiot boyfriend, and Tampa’s finest strip clubs in this film based on the greatest Twitter story ever told.
Sister Act DVD
In this comedy, a nightclub singer (played by Whoopi Goldberg) is forced to take refuge from the mob in a convent. While there she turns the convent choir into a soulful chorus complete with a Motown repertoire. The sudden celebrity of the choir jeopardizes her identity.
Please check out our other Black History Month blogs:
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