the vision. the voice. From L.A. to London and Martinique to Mali. We bring you the world ofBlack film. Ifyou're concerned about Black images in commercial film and tele­ vision, you already know that tIollywood does not reflect the ITlulti- cultural nature ofconteITlporary society. You know thatwhen Blacks are not absent they are confined to predictable, one-dimensional roles. You ITlay argue that ITlovies and television shape our reality or that they siITlply reflect that reality. In any case, no one can deny the need to take a closer look atwhat is corning out ofthis powerful ITlediuITl. BlackFilm Review is the forum you've been looking for. Four times a year, we bringyou film criticisIn froIn a Black perspective. We look behind the surface and challenge ardinary assurnptiorls about the Black image. We feature actors aJ.l.d actresses that go agaul.st the graill., all.d we fill you ill. orl the rich history ofBlacks ill. ArnericaJ.l. filrnrnakill.g - a history that goes back to 19101 And, Black Film Review is the only magazine that brings you news, reviews and in-deptIl interviews frOIn tile Inost vibrant Inovernent in contetnporary film. You know about Spike Lee butwllat about Euzllan Paley or IsaacJulien? SouleInayne Cisse or Charles Burnette? Tllrougll­ out the African diaspora, Black fi1rnInakers are giving us alternatives to tile static iInages tllat are proeluceel in Hollywooel anel giving birtll to a wllole new cineIlla...be tllere! ----------------- INTERVIEW ------------------- 4 VOL.G NO.1 by Saundra Sharp Charles Burnett, critically acclaimed for his first feature film, Killer of Sheep, on the evolution of his most ambitious work thus far, afeature starring Danny Glover 2025 Eye Street, NW ashington, DC 20006 TwoWayStreet ----------------- 8 202) 466-2753 by Clyde Taylor Editor Wendell Harris surprised everybody when he walked away with the Grand Jury prize Jacq uie Jones at the United States Film Festival this year. A look at what got him that award Assistant Editors D. Kamili Anderson Peter J. Harris SPECIAL SECTION: LADIES FIRST Consulting Editor Women Throughout the Diaspora Tackle Their Firsts ______ 10 Tony Gittens by Michelle Parkerson (Black Film Institute) Associate Editor/Film Critic :?:~~ijfJJ;WW Arthur Johnson It Daughters of the Dust ----- 12 ij:{:~ @WJMi;,@ by Zeinabu irene Davis Associate Editors Pat Aufderheide African American filmmaker Julie Dash on Roy Campanella, II 8 )I:::::.;:J:~;lmt the genesis and completion of her fi 1m Victoria M. Marshall T~t:::::::::~;E@Iili:jb Mark A. Reid Daughters of the Dust, the first major fea­ Miriam Rosen :.:... :I:··,I<I~·I:~~ ture mounted by an African American Saundra Sharp L{'·":"':""""':"W{f?K!.{}) Waman Clyde Taylor Art Director/Graphic Designer Davie Smith La Force duVodu ------ 18 ~t{'):i by Claire Andrade-Watkins Advertising Director Sheila Reid , Haitian filmmaker Elsie Haas on her first Editorial Intern TWO WAY STREET feature, Boni, and the movement to esta- Kayhan Parsi bIish a Caribbean cinema Founding Editor David Nicholson Perfect Image? 22 1985 - 1989 by EI izabeth Jackson British filmmaker Maureen Blackwood on her first solo flight Black Film Review (ISSN 0887-5723) is published four times a year by Sojourner Productions, Inc., a non-profit corporation organized and incorporated VIEWPOINT- ------------------ 25 in the District of Columbia. This issue is co-pro­ In Hollywood, Black Men Are In ... Black Women Are Still Out duced with the Black Film Institute of the University of the District of Columbia. Subscriptions are $12 by Margo Okazawa-Rey peryearfor individuals, $24 peryearfor institutions. What's new in Hollywood? Nothing Add $10 per year for overseas subscriptions. Sub­ scription requests and correspondence should be sent to P.O. Box 18665, Washington, D.C. 20036. FEATURES Send all other correspondence and submissions to Film Clips_ ------------------2 the above address; submissions must include a stamped, self-addressed envelope. No part of this The Oscars, Robin Harris, and more publication may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. Logo and contents copy­ Reviews -- 26 right (c) Sojourner Productions, Inc., 1990, and in the name of individual contributors. Ida B. Wellsand Heart Condition Black Film Review welcomes submissions from writers, but we prefer that you first query with a letter. All unsolicited manuscripts must be accom­ Calendar -- 29 panied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. We are not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts. Black Film Review has signed a code of practices with the National Writers Union, 13 Astor Place, 7th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10003. DAUGHTERS OF This issue of Black Film Review was produced with THE DUST the assistance of grants from the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and the Institute forthe Preservation and Study of African American Writing. 12 F i I m eli p s remarked, "I wish I could say by George Hill ••••• thank you in all the lan­ The 1990 Academy guages of the many coun­ Awards were historic. African tries that are watching this Americans won two Oscars evening." out of their five nominations. Although Spike Lee and Denzel Washington and a second; last year, Willie billion people world-wide Do The Right Thing did not Russell Williams, II brought Burton won in this category heard him. win an Oscar, "Lee cast a in both of the wins for the for Bird. Backstage, Washington shadow over the stage movie Glory. Washington Although the media had told the press, "Glory [the without even being asked to was named best supporting moved us toward be'lieving story of one of the first Black come on stage," as a Los actor. This was the second Morgan Freeman had a regiments to fight in the Civil Angeles Times film critic put time a Black actor was rec­ much better opportunity in War] was a bit of history I it. Actress Kim Basinger, ognized in this category; the Leading Actor category,,­ knew nothing about before introd uci ng the fi rst five fi 1m Louis Gossett, Jr. won the Black Hollywood hoped the film. I was stunned that it clips from films nominated first award in 1982. Washington would win. was not taught in school." for Best Picture, commented Still, it was only the fifth When asked if he expected This was the second time that there was "one film time an African American the win, Washington said, Washington had been missing from this list that has won since 1939, and A lot of people told me I nominated for an Oscar; the deserves to be on it, because only one Black actor has won would [receive the award]; first time was for his role as it might tell the biggest truth an Oscar in the Leading so, it put a lot of pressure on South African activist Steven of all, and that's Do the Right Actor and Actress categories me. There was uproarious Biko in Cry Freedom. Thing. II Lee was nominated in the history of the Awards. applause as he came to the The Academy Award for for best original screenplay. Sidney Poitier won in 1963 stage and received his statu­ sound is a group effort. Producer Yvonne Smith, for the tame Lilies of the ette. As the applause sub­ Russell Williams won the nominated for the feature Field. Hattie McDaniel was sided, Washington sat the Oscar with three others who documentary, Adam Clayton the first Black Oscar recipi­ Oscar down, reached inside were the head sound men Powell, broadcast as a ent, winning as Supporting his coat pocket for his ac­ for dialogue, effect, and segment of PBS's "American Actress for her performance ceptance speech, and ex­ music. Williams headed up Experience" series, was the as Mammy in Gone With the claimed, "Thank God, I'm prod uction· sou nd. Co-reci pi- second Black woman to be Wind in 1939. going to have a chance to ent Don Mitchell made the nominated for an Oscar as Williams took home the use this." More on-camera acceptance producer. Callie Crossley got trophy for sound. His is than a speech for the group; the Academy nod in 1988 for also after the routine thank Eyes on the Prize, Part I. This you's, he stepped was also Morgan Freeman's aside. Williams seized second nomination. His per­ the opportunity and formance in Street Smart brought him to national prominence.- George Hill, the author of Black Action Films, is afilm and television historian and editor of the nation's only Black TV Guide, which is based in Los Angeles ROBIN HARRIS (1954-1990) On Saturday night, March ) 17, Robin Harris'delighted a sold-out audience of 2,400 at Chicago's Regal Theatre with Denzel Washington his hilarious and soulful photo by Bill Jones stand-up comedy act. Sadly, 2 like Pigmeat Markham and Baraka, Angela Davis, Bill Richard Pryor. He's folks." Greaves, and Robert Van It is sadly ironic that Lierop, has announced the Harris' death came just as he release on VHS cassette was poised for a major Gerima's Ashes and Em­ breakthrough in his career. bers. This is the film that He is featured in Warrington "establishe[d] Haile Gerima and Reginald Hudlin's box as among the most inter­ office hit, House Party, a esting and original critically praised rap music filmmakers on the current comedy. He was recently scene," according the seen in an HBO comedy spe­ Village Voice. cial taped at Chicago's Vic The release is part of a Theater. He had cut a fund-raising effort for comedy album and had been Gerima's upcoming project, chosen to star in Eddie Nunu, a drama about Murphy's production, The slavery and liberation being Butterscotch Kid.