Chris Rock is a Haitian Hero in "Top Five"

"Top Five" is one of those films where someone writes a check to the filmmaker and says "lay thine hands on this money and go forth and make your movie." It's every filmmaker's dream. No studio or financiers controlling your artistic vision. And truly Chris Rock did whatever the heck he wanted to do in this film and it worked. It is a hilarious movie. It's not pretentious. There's no "message". It's nearly 2 hours of raunchy hilarity. The depth of a couple of characters surprised me. Like Gabrielle Union who plays a superficial reality star. In one scene, she breaks down and I felt her pain for a second. Just a second then back to the funny. Warning: If you're a prude, when the movie gets to Houston 2003, close your eyes. 

Chris Rock plays Andre, a comedian, recovering alcoholic, who is now sober and has decided to do serious movies. His first dramatic movie is called "Uprize", a feature film about Bookman leading the Haitian revolution. Haiti is weaved throughout the film. The Haitian flag appears in several scenes. Unfortunately, no one takes "Uprize" seriously. Some people just can't see this comedian in a serious role. Others are too consumed with his upcoming wedding to a reality star to care about his career. And many are just upset that he would make a movie about killing White people. That joke is repeated throughout. A movie about the greatest slave rebellion of all times, Black slaves killing 50,000 Whites, that was not acceptable. White people were mad. In one scene, Andre says "George Bush killed thousands of Brown people in real life and I can't kill 50, 000 Whites in a movie?" Given the difficulties filmmakers have had to make a movie about the Haitian Revolution, most notably Danny Glover, that part of the film struck a cord with me. 

"Top Five" has numerous very funny bits, including a Seinfeld, Adam Sandler and Whoopie Goldberg cameo. But its most hilarious moment? D.M.X. what y'all really want?!?

The Haitian surprise in "Timbuktu" at the Toronto International Film Festival

Yesterday, I Attended the screening of "Timbuktu", an Abderhamane Sissako film. It is heart wrenchingly beautiful. It depicts, in delicate detail, the beauty of a small village struggling between being African, being Muslim, submitting to rebel extremist rule, yet staying true to one's ancestral African roots. It is most relevant now that the world is learning about ISIS and Boko Haram. Sissako did a fantastic job of telling a love story interwoven with conflict and violence. He artfully depicts the foreign hands at work in conflicts such as the rebel occupation of Timbuktu. 

I've read many reviews of the film, few mention the "Vodou" element and a certain crazy woman. None specify that the character is Haitian. So when I heard Creole and the words "Port-au-Prince" in the film, my heart skipped a beat. This woman was the only one who refused to obey draconian sharia laws requiring her to not just cover her head but wear gloves to cover her hands and socks to cover her feet. Hers was the only home where people could dance (something that was forbidden). She paraded around with a cock on her shoulder, a long train trailing behind her without regard for the rules. She screamed about the earthquake and being cracked and broken. This role is played brilliantly by Kettly Noel.

Cohen Media acquired the US rights to the film after its premiere at Cannes (it won the Ecumenical prize) earlier this year. I sure hope everyone gets to experience this film. 

Numa Perrier 'In the Morning'

I've been waiting for this news for over a year! Mutihyphenated Haitian-American artist Numa Perrier soon can be seen on the big screen in New York at the premiere of Nefertite Nguvu's 'In the Morning.' Also starring in the film is Emayatzy Corinealdi (Middle of Nowhere, Miles Ahead, Gun Hill, The Silent Treatment). 

I first heard of this film about two years ago and have been anticipating its release ever since. The film follows three couples navigating issues of love, desire, anger. The film is described as a mood piece and per the filmmaker's synopsis:

"Friends, Harper, Ravi, Fez, Bly and Amara, gather to bid farewell to one of their own moving abroad, and debate the compromise and loss of their youthful ideals about marriage, fidelity, life and love; 2 lovers, Malik and Cadence, meet to ceremoniously end a whirlwind romance that has collapsed under the weight of fears, obligations and regrets; A couple, Zuri and Leal, sift through the remains of their broken relationship as they try to make a life altering decision, journeying through the bitter heartbreak that comes with faded love, disintegrated trust, and dreams abandoned. For everyone, life will be indelibly altered in the morning."

Peep the trailer from Shadow and Act's Tambay Obenson --- HERE

The film screens at the Urban World Film Festival in New York on September 20th at 8pm. Check out Urban World's website for more details ----> HERE.

 

Montreal International Black Film Festival

The Montreal International Black Film Festival has announced its 2014 lineup. Of note is Martine Jean's "The Silent Treatment" which will make its Canadian premiere on September 27th at 1pm. 'The Silent Treatment' is a short film about a love triangle, shot in the style of 1920s silent films.

This year's festival will open with Boris Lojkine's "Hope" a film which was a part of Cannes' Semaine de la Critique. The film tells the heart wrenching tale of a Nigerian woman and a Cameroonian man who partner up while traversing the Sahara in an attempt to make it to Europe.

Also of note this year, Director Spike Lee will receive the festival's inaugural Pioneer award and his latest film 'Da Sweet Blood of Jesus" will screen at the festival, thus having its international premiere on September 24th.

The Montreal International Black Film Festival was founded in 2005 by Fabienne Colas through her non-profit the Fabienne Colas Foundation. We will bring you more details on the festival's schedule as they are released.

GARCELLE BEAUVAIS' latest children's book hits the shelves!

Actress GARCELLE BEAUVAIS' new children's book has hit the shelves. GARCELLE was on several talk shows yesterday and today discussing her book (part of the "I AM" series) and its importance in the lives of children. The series tackles issues such as divorce and biracial children and is a fun way for children to understand, cope, indeed thrive. In her interviews, Garcelle emphasized creating stable and safe homes for the children, while sparing them the gory details of divorce and heartbreak/

Previously, Garcelle released "I AM MIXED" which is now followed by "I AM LIVING IN TWO HOMES."

Check out Garcelle's interview on Access Hollywood ----- > HERE

Muder in Pacot

Earlier this year, I reported on RAOUL Peck's new feature film titled "Murder in Pacot." Shot on location in Port-au-Prince, the film tells the tale of an affluent Haitian family picking up the pieces and attempting to rebuild post earthquake. 

Shadow and Act shared the first pictures from Peck's "Murder in Pacot" which is said to be "loosely inspired by Italian director, Pier Paolo Pasolini's 1968 drama/mystery "Teorema," which starred Terence Stamp as a mysterious stranger who injects himself into the home of a wealthy Italian family, and seduces everyone in it, including maid ..." (Source: Shadow & Act). 

The film stars Lovely Kermonde and Alex Descas. "Murder in Pacot" will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival next month. I will be there and will let you know what I think! Check out more pictures on ----- >  SHADOW AND ACT.

"Lakay" is an official selection of the 'Harlem International Film Festival"

There are quite a few earthquake related documentaries being released this year. About two months ago, we profiled Claudine Oriol's latest project, a documentary titled "Resilient Hearts" . Most recently, filmmaker Numa Perrier presented her video art project titled "Florida Water" at Papillion Art in Los Angeles. The soul stirring project breathed life into a vintage image of Perrier's own mother with footage of quake ravaged Port-au-Prince interspersed throughout. 

Now comes "Lakay", a documentary about two brothers who return to Haiti in search of family after the quake. Directed by Tirf Alexis and starring Remoh Romeo, Hugh Grady and the director himself,the film focuses on a search for loved ones which ultimately leads to a rediscovery of Haiti's beauty. The film is slated for an October theatrical release but today the filmmakers announced that "Lakay" is an official selection of the prestigious "Harlem International Film Festival" being held in September. 

Watch the trailer for "Lakay" below!