Black World Cinema in Chicago August 7th: CUBA: An African Odyssey
Founded in 2005, Black World Cinema is a showcase of seldom seen classic features and new films from around the world.
Black World Cinema presents films by filmmakers that bring us story with compelling content and human dimension seldom presented in mainstream cinema. Presented by ICE Theaters on Chicago's Southside, Black World Cinema presents black and alternative cinema side by side with popular cinema Southside Chicago audiences
All screenings are followed by lively discussions moderated by program director Floyd Webb or local filmwriters, directors and cultural critics.
Cuba: An African Odyssey, 2007, Egypt/France, 189 min Admission: $5.00, Thurs, Aug. 7
Jihan El Tahri’s 2007 documentary CUBA: An African Odyssey tells the previously untold story of Cuba’s support for African revolutions. This documentary unravels the story of the so-called Cold War, through the prism of its least known arena: Africa. Against colonialism, capitalism, and communism, the newly independent nations attempted for the first time to gain real control of their own countries. From Che Guevara's military campaign to avenge Lumumba in the Congo, up to the fall of apartheid in South Africa, 300,000 Cubans fought alongside African revolutionaries.
CHAMELEON STREET, 1990, USA, 94 minutes Admission: $5.00, Thurs, Sept. 4
Directed by Wendell Harris, appearing live at the screening Based on the true story of an amazing con man, William Douglas Street (Wendell B. Harris, Jr.) exchanges his dead-end life for a brand-new identity. In fact, many new identities...reporter, doctor, lawyer, Detroit Tiger! He becomes whatever he can to make some money, and soon his life is turned upside down.
Grand Jury Award winner at the 1990 Sundance Film Festival, this film was acquired and shelved. Films like Catch Me If You Can followed in it's wake and Wendell Harris seemed never to have been heard from again, until NOW.
A panel discussion will take place after the film about the state of Black Independent Cinema today, where it has been, where it is going, or is it just a dead issue.
for more information: floyd@blackworldcinema.net