Latin America

ABDIAS DO NASCIMENTO

ABDIAS DO NASCIMENTO

Regular price $295.00
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ABDIAS DO NASCIMENTO 

DIRECTED BY AIDA MARQUES
BRAZIL / 2011 / PORTUGUESE WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES / 95 MIN

SYNOPSIS

Loving and revealing documentary about Afro-Brazilian scholar/writer/activist /politician Abdias do Nascimento (1914-2011), a significant figure in and leader of Brazil’s Black movement who founded the Black Experimental Theater in 1944 and was very active in the international Pan-African Movement.

 

DIRECTOR AND CAST

Director: Aida Marques
 

GENRES

  • Documentary
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ABOLICAO

ABOLICAO

Regular price $345.00
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Abolicao.mp4 from ArtMattan Productions on Vimeo.

ABOLICAO

DIRECTED BY SOZIMO BULBUL 
BRAZIL / 1988 / PORTUGUESE WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES / 150 MIN

SYNOPSIS

Aboliçao is a startling look at the racial situation of Black Brazilians in contemporary Brazil. The director asks the following question to Black Brazilians from diverse walks of life -- musicians, politicians, activists, people in government, ambassadors, social workers, sport stars, actors, street kids, farmers, etc… -- “We are celebrating 100 years since the abolition of slavery in Brazil, what does the abolition of slavery mean to you?”… Divided in sections addressing political, economic, social and cultural issues, Aboliçao contributed to a new analysis of the Black experience in Brazil. An indispensable title to have in a library for the study of the Black presence in Latin America.

DIRECTOR AND CAST

Director: Sozimo Bulbul
Starring: Camila Amado 
Starring: Benedita da Silva
Starring: Abdias do Nascimento
 

GENRES

  • Documentary

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AFRO-BRAZILIAN LEADERS

AFRO-BRAZILIAN LEADERS

Regular price $395.00
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Revealing films about two very important Afro-Brazilian figures:

* Abdias do Nascimento (March 14, 1914 - May 23, 2011) was an outspoken and vibrant defender of Afro-Brazilian civil rights.
* Natalino Jose do Nacimento, better known as Natal Da Portela (July 31, 1905- April 5, 1975) was one of the founders and major sponsor of the Portela Samba School in Rio de Janeiro, champion of the 2017 Carnival parade.

ABDIAS DO NASCIMENTO

Loving and revealing documentary about Afro-Brazilian scholar/writer/activist /politician Abdias do Nascimento (1914-2011), a significant figure in and leader of Brazil’s Black movement who founded the Black Experimental Theater in 1944 and was very active in the international Pan-African Movement.
Directed by Aida Marques, 2011, 95 min, Brazil, Documentary, Portuguese with English subtitles.

NATAL DA PORTELA

The name ‘Natal da Portela’ is historically attached to the cultural identity of Brazil. Natal da Portela created the first escola de samba in Rio de Janeiro. The schools of samba are the soul of carnival in Brazil and major reservoirs of Afro-Brazilian culture. The film depicts the life of Natal da Portela as a young man from the favelas--the slums of the northern part of Rio de Janeiro--up to the creation of “la Portela”, the school of samba he created.

Directed by Paulo Cezar Saraceni, 1988, 100min, Brazil, Drama, Portuguese with English subtitles.

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AFRO-CUBA: YESTERDAY & TODAY

AFRO-CUBA: YESTERDAY & TODAY

Regular price $295.00
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Two exciting, colorful films spotlight the African roots of Cuba's culture by focusing on two legendary artists -- Rumbero Papa Montero and Filmmaker Sara Gomez -- in this unique box set.

THE LAST RUMBA OF PAPA MONTERO / LA ULTIMA RUMBA DE PAPA MONTERO

Get ready to rumba! The life of Cuba s last great rumbero is detailed in THE LAST RUMBA OF PAPA MONTERO, a bold story that captures Cuban traditions and culture through beautiful imagery, sensual music, and the most scorching Latin dance ever invented. Afro-Cuban mythology serves as the force behind the narrative as mythic figures guide the characters through the events of the story.

| Cuba/Martinique | 1992 | 52 mins | docu-drama in Spanish with English subtitles | Octavio Cortazar, Dir. |

“Montero is a celebration of rumba as heart and soul for a colorful Cuban landscape." - SLANT

 

SARA GOMEZ: AN AFRO-CUBAN FILMMAKER

Acclaimed filmmaker Sara Gomez comes to life in the rich, multilayered documentary SARA GOMEZ: AN AFRO-CUBAN FILMMAKER. Though trained in ethnography, Gomez became the first female Cuban filmmaker. Her background shaped her films, which reflect her interests in Afro-Cuban cultural traditions and women s issues. Friends and family members recall her talent, intelligence, and generosity. Ultimately SARA GOMEZ is a love story between Sara and her husband (filmmaker Germinal Hernandez), Sara and her family, and Sara and her culture.

| Cuba/Switzerland | 2005 | 76 min | documentary in Spanish with English subtitles | Alessandra Muller, Dir. |

"[SARA GOMEZ] is an extremely important documentary.... " - Kwame Dixon, SCOPE

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AFRO-LATINO EXPERIENCE: ECUADOR & PERU

AFRO-LATINO EXPERIENCE: ECUADOR & PERU

Regular price $395.00
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THE ESMERALDAS BEACH 

In today’s Ecuador, the black population, the descendants of enslaved Africans, continue to experience strong racial and social discrimination. Yet people in the community still strive to value their specific culture and transmit the rebellious memory of their ancestors who fought for freedom. The Es­meraldas Beach sets out to expose the invisibility of Afro-Ecuadorians and rectify the narrative of the country’s history with the film’s central protagonist, Juan García, who has worked on that project for years. He developed a school book that presents black Ecuadorians prominently since the only Afro-descendants shown in local school books are portrayed next to a marimba and football.  The documentary also addresses the 1999 assassination of Prime Minister Jaime Hurtado, the first Black to hold this office.

Directed by Patrice Raynal, 2020, France/Ecuador, 58 minutes, documentary, French and Spanish with English subtitles.

 

SUSANA BACA: MEMORIA VIVA

Susana Baca is not only a champion in the performance and preservation of Afro-Peruvian heritage, but also an elegant singer whose shimmering voice sings of love, loss and life. Susana and her husband Ricardo Pereira have founded the Instituto Negrocontinuo “Black Continuum” in Lima, a spirited facility for the exploration, expression, and creation of Black Peruvian culture. While Baca has dedicated herself to researching and performing virtually all forms of Afro-Peruvian folklore, it is the Lando that has become her trademark. This slow to mid-tempo, highly evocative mix of Spanish, Indigenous and African rhythms has become what the son is to Cuba, or the samba to Brazil--the Lando is the sound of Black Peru.

Directed by Marc Dixon, 2003, Peru/Belgium, 54 minutes, documentary, English & Spanish with English subtitles.

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ALEIJADINHO, PASSION, GLORY AND TORMENT

ALEIJADINHO, PASSION, GLORY AND TORMENT

Regular price $295.00
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ALEIJADINHO, PASSION, GLORY AND TORMENT 

DIRECTED BY GERALDO SANTOS PEREIRA 
BRAZIL / 2001 / PORTUGUESE WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES / 100 MIN

SYNOPSIS

Set in 19th century Brazil - at a time when slavery was still at the foundation of the Latin American economy - this fascinating historical drama is loosely based on the life of Black sculptor Antonio Francisco Lisboa "Aleijadinho," one of the greatest sculptors of Latin America.
DIRECTOR AND CAST

Director: Geraldo Santos Pereira
 

GENRES

  • Drama

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ANGELICA
ANGELICA
ANGELICA
ANGELICA
ANGELICA
ANGELICA
ANGELICA
ANGELICA

ANGELICA

Regular price $395.00
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ANGELICA

Angelica, after a long absence from Puerto Rico, returns home when her father, Wilfredo, suffers a stroke. This unexpected return and her father's illness force Angelica to re-evaluate her relationship with her mother and family members who don't accept her because of her skin color. She must face herself and discovers that she does not know who she is. After her father's death, Angelica must decide whether to return to the comfort of her previous life, dissatisfied, but secure, or set on an adventurous path to rediscover herself as an independent, modern, strong, black, and Puerto Rican woman.


Directed by Marisol Gómez-Mouakad, Puerto Rico, 2016, 100min, Drama, English & Spanish w/English subtitles

"Purposely challenging the Eurocentric beauty standards that blatantly plague Latin America on and off screen, Puerto Rican director Marisol Gómez-Mouakad sets out to tell the story of an empowered Afro-Latina fighting colorism at home in her debut feature Angélica." ~ Remezcla

People talk about racism and sexism in the U.S.,” Gómez-Mouakad explains. “They may not do much, but in talking about it they are at least addressing the problem. In Puerto Rico — and across the Caribbean and Latin America — there is a lot of denial. If you do talk about the issues, you are accused of being over sensitive. But words have power and words can hurt.” ~ director Marisol Gómez-Mouakad

"In addition to the theme of racism, the film touches upon the implications of machismo in a patriarchal society from the perspective of women." ~ Repeating Islands 

"Another glorious, glorious portrait on race and the roles women play—by pressure, by tradition, by choice. " ~ Guilie Castillo Oriard

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BLACK & LATINO

BLACK & LATINO

Regular price $345.00
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Two films that  explore the Black & Latino experience.

Set in the USA, INVISIBLE COLOR: AFRO-CUBANS IN MIAMI is a documentary about the history and  living experience of Afro-Cubans in Miami.



MESTIZO is a drama set in 1940 Venezuela about the conflicted identity of José Vargas, the  illegitimate son of a white colonial administrator and a poor black  fisher-woman.

INVISIBLE COLOR:  AFRO-CUBANS IN MIAMI

This latest documentary by the Dean of Afro-Cuban Cinema, Sergio Giral, investigates the black Cuban exile community in South Florida, since the first wave of political refugees in the 1959 revolutionary aftermath, to today. It tracks its presence throughout the region, and highlights its contribution to Miami’s civic culture through testimonies and visual documentation.

Directed by Sergio Giral / 2017 / USA / Cuba / English and Spanish with English subtitles / 47 min.

MESTIZO

The action takes place in a village on the Venezuelan coast, a place of fishermen and big haciendas. Jose Ramon, son of a white aristocrat and a humble black fisher-women, is trying to  define his own identity while dealing with social and sexual conflicts, power, culture, the law, and the impossible relationship he has with both his parents.

Directed by Mario Handler / 1989 / Venezuela / Spanish with English  subtitles / 82 Min.

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BLACK MEXICAN / LA NEGRADA & THE VALLEY OF THE BLACK DESCENDANTS / EL VALLE DE LOS NEGROS
BLACK MEXICAN / LA NEGRADA & THE VALLEY OF THE BLACK DESCENDANTS / EL VALLE DE LOS NEGROS
BLACK MEXICAN / LA NEGRADA & THE VALLEY OF THE BLACK DESCENDANTS / EL VALLE DE LOS NEGROS
BLACK MEXICAN / LA NEGRADA & THE VALLEY OF THE BLACK DESCENDANTS / EL VALLE DE LOS NEGROS
BLACK MEXICAN / LA NEGRADA & THE VALLEY OF THE BLACK DESCENDANTS / EL VALLE DE LOS NEGROS
BLACK MEXICAN / LA NEGRADA & THE VALLEY OF THE BLACK DESCENDANTS / EL VALLE DE LOS NEGROS
BLACK MEXICAN / LA NEGRADA & THE VALLEY OF THE BLACK DESCENDANTS / EL VALLE DE LOS NEGROS
BLACK MEXICAN / LA NEGRADA & THE VALLEY OF THE BLACK DESCENDANTS / EL VALLE DE LOS NEGROS
BLACK MEXICAN / LA NEGRADA & THE VALLEY OF THE BLACK DESCENDANTS / EL VALLE DE LOS NEGROS
BLACK MEXICAN / LA NEGRADA & THE VALLEY OF THE BLACK DESCENDANTS / EL VALLE DE LOS NEGROS

BLACK MEXICAN / LA NEGRADA & THE VALLEY OF THE BLACK DESCENDANTS / EL VALLE DE LOS NEGROS

Regular price $395.00
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Two films that explore the life of black people in Latin America.  BLACK MEXICAN / LA NEGRADA is the first Mexican feature film about the Afro-Mexican community, THE VALLEY OF THE BLACK DESCENDANTS / EL VALLE DE LOS NEGROS is a documentary about Afro-Chilean struggle to organize the first African census in the history of Chile.

 

BLACK MEXICANS / LA NEGRADA

Black Mexicans Trailer Eng Sub - ArtMattan Films from ArtMattan Productions on Vimeo.

DIRECTED BY JORGE PEREZ SOLANO
MEXICO/ 2018/ 104 MIN / DRAMA  IN SPANISH WITH ENGLISH


SYNOPSIS

 

Black Mexicans (La Negrada) is the first Mexican feature film about the Afro-Mexican community, filmed entirely with people from different towns around the Costa Chica in Oaxaca.

Neri, a fisherman, splits his time between two women: his wife Juanita with whom he has a daughter and his lover Magdalena, mother of three additional children. Things are about to change for Neri as Juanita falls gravely ill and Magdalena prepares to take her place.

Shot entirely in the beautiful beaches of Corralera in Oaxaca and featuring a cast of non-professional actors from the nearby communities, Black Mexicans explores the social mores of and the discrimination faced by Mexico’s little known black community.


THE VALLEY OF THE BLACK DESCENDANTS / EL VALLE DE LOS NEGROS

 

In the Azapa Valley (Chile), an oasis in the driest desert in the world, a group of descendants of enslaved men and women brought from Africa are organizing the first African census in the history of Chile. Their aim is to get official recognition from the State that has concealed their culture and African identity for more than 200 years.

Directed by  Ric.hard Salgado, Chile, 2017, 52 min, documentary, Spanish with English subtitle.

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BLACK MEXICANS / LA NEGRADA

BLACK MEXICANS / LA NEGRADA

Regular price $295.00
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Black Mexicans Trailer Eng Sub - ArtMattan Films from ArtMattan Productions on Vimeo.

THE BLACK MEXICANS / LA NEGRADA

DIRECTED BY JORGE PEREZ SOLANO
MEXICO / 2018 / SPANISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES / 104 MIN
SYNOPSIS

Critically acclaimed drama Black Mexicans / La Negrada by Jorge Pérez has recently been acquired by Artmattan Productions!

Black Mexicans / La Negrada is the first Mexican feature film about the Afro-Mexican community, filmed entirely with people from different towns around the Costa Chica in Oaxaca.

Among the black people in the Costa Chica in Oaxaca, it is socially accepted that a man lives with more than one woman. Juana and Magdalena share Neri’s love, they both know that this situation is hurting them. Juana will have to die in order to show Magdalena a new path for her life.

In Mexico, the afro communities represents only 1% of the total population. They have never been recognized as an ethnic group, nation or culture, suffering discrimination as an outcast group. LA NEGRADA is the first Mexican fiction movie filmed entirely in one of those black communities, with local people, no professional actors. An effort to give them voice and make them visible.

DIRECTOR AND CAST

Director: Jorge Perez Solano
 

GENRES

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CANDOMBE

CANDOMBE

Regular price $195.00
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CANDOMBE

DIRECTED BY RAFAEL DEUGENIO 
URUGUAY / 1993 / SPANISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES / 16 MIN  
SYNOPSIS

More than two hundred years ago, there was an influx into Uruguay of enslaved Africans whom, after being freed, continued to make up the poorest and most marginalized strata in society. Fernando Nunez, a black man, a musician, and a maker of drums, sees himself as the heir to "Candombe", an important social and cultural legacy from his enslaved forefathers.  The official history and culture of Uruguay, on the other hand, which has never acknowledged this contribution to the degree which it deserves, continues to marginalize expressions of black culture. Fernando Nunez and his friends from the Barrio Sur back street quarter of Montevideo have decided to fight to keep these important cultural roots alive in the consciousness of the Uruguayan people.

 

DIRECTOR AND CAST

Director: Rafael Deugenio
 

GENRES

  • Docu-drama
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DENYING BRAZIL

DENYING BRAZIL

Regular price $245.00
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DENYING BRAZIL 

DIRECTED BY JOEL ZITO ARAUJO 
BRAZIL / 2000 / PORTUGUESE WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES / 92 MIN
SYNOPSIS

A documentary film about the taboos, stereotypes, and struggles of Black actors in Brazilian television "soaps." Based on his own memories and on a sturdy body of research evidence, the director analyzes race relations in Brazilian soap operas, calling attention to their likely influence on Black people's identity-forming processes. 

"As a sociological dissection on how popular entertainment can shape racial prejudice and help to build racial justice, 'Denying Brazil' is a strong and significant work of intelligence."  - Phil Hall, Filmthreat

DIRECTOR AND CAST

Director: Joel Zito Araujo

 GENRES

  • Documentary
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Executive Order (Medida Provisora)
Executive Order (Medida Provisora)
Executive Order (Medida Provisora)
Executive Order (Medida Provisora)
Executive Order (Medida Provisora)
Executive Order (Medida Provisora)

Executive Order (Medida Provisora)

Regular price $395.00
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EXECUTIVE ORDER
(Medida Provisória)

Set in a dystopian near future in Rio de Janeiro, a lawyer (Alfred Enoch) sues the Brazilian government for reparation of all descendants of African slaves in the country. The authoritarian government responds by signing an executive order sending all black citizens to Africa as an excuse to repay the debts of slavery. 

Directed by Lázaro Ramos, 2020, Brazil, 101min, Drama, Portuguese w/ English subtitles.

"A chilling believability creeps into this dystopian debut from actor-turned-director Lázaro Ramos that’s hard to shake off." ~ Cath Clarke, Guardian

"[Executive Order] is Bacurau on a global scale, Get Out without the humor. It's Armee Guineenne unleashed in movie form, a melancholic prophecy of a coming war and a sendoff to those brave African soldiers who dared to fight for their heartland." ~ Asher Luberto, L.A. Weekly

"The directing is excellent, the cast is giving it their all, and the themes are relevant and need to be discussed." ~ Bobby LePire, Film Threat

"Politically and culturally driven it may be, Executive Order still ultimately aims for entertainment and education in equal measure." ~ Peter Gray, The AU Review

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HUMAN BEHAVIOR

HUMAN BEHAVIOR

Regular price $145.00
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HUMAN BEHAVIOR

DIRECTED BY FLAVIO LEANDRO 

BRAZIL / 1995 / SILENT FILM / 12 MIN                                                                          
                                                                                                                          SYNOPSIS

In 1993, death squads opened fire on a group of sleeping street children camped on the steps of a cathedral in Rio de Janeiro’s central financial district, killing six. This event, later called the Candelaria massacre, is vividly depicted in this short film about the plight of street children in Brazil.  

DIRECTOR

Director: Flavio Leandro
 

GENRE

  • Drama

                                                                      

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KAFE NEGRO: CUBA & THE HAITIAN REVOLUTION
KAFE NEGRO: CUBA & THE HAITIAN REVOLUTION
KAFE NEGRO: CUBA & THE HAITIAN REVOLUTION
KAFE NEGRO: CUBA & THE HAITIAN REVOLUTION

KAFE NEGRO: CUBA & THE HAITIAN REVOLUTION

Regular price $395.00
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Kafe Negro Trailer from ArtMattan Productions on Vimeo.

Kafe Negro: Cuba & The Haitian Revolution is a film that explores the social, economic & historical ramification of the Haitian Revolution on Cuba.

Kafe Negro tells the story of migrations around a small grain that became the second most important raw material on the global market. This film tells the story of the waves of migration of Haitian workers who, over time, profoundly transformed the culture and demographics of Cuba and developed coffee growing on the island.

Directed by Mario Delatour | Cuba & Haiti | 52min | 2020 | Documentary | French and Spanish with English subtitles

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LA PLAYA D.C.

LA PLAYA D.C.

Regular price $295.00
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LA PLAYA D.C. 

DIRECTED BY JUAN ANDRES ARANGO GARCIA
COLOMBIA/BRAZIL/FRANCE / 2012 / SPANISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES / 90 MIN

 

SYNOPSIS

Tomas,an Afro-Colombian teenager who fled the country's Pacific coast pushed out by the war, faces the difficulties of growing up in a city if exclusion and racism. When Jairo, his younger brother and closest friend disappears, Tomas plunges in the streets of the city. His search becomes an initiatory journey that compels him to face his past and to leave aside the influence of his is brothers in order to find his own identity. Through this journey, Tomas reveals a unique perspective of a vibrant and unstable city that, like Tomas, stands on the threshold between what once was and what might be.

DIRECTOR AND CAST

Director: Juan Andres Arango Garcia
Starring: Luis Carlos Guevara
Starring: Jamés Solís
Starring: Andrés Murillo
 

GENRES

  • Drama 
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Ludi

Ludi

Regular price $395.00
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Trailer LUDI Art.mp4 from ArtMattan Productions on Vimeo.

"Ludi," directed by Edson Jean, is a compelling exploration of the Haitian immigrant experience set in the vibrant community of Little Haiti in Miami. The film follows the resilient protagonist, Ludi, portrayed by the talented Shein Mompremier, as she grapples with the challenges of forging a new life in America. In the pursuit of the elusive American dream, Ludi confronts the harsh realities of the immigrant experience.

Edson Jean's directorial finesse captures the nuances of cultural identity, economic struggle, and the indomitable spirit that propels individuals to persevere against adversity.  The film not only sheds light on the immigrant narrative but also serves as a poignant reflection on the strength and resilience of those who dare to seek a better life in a new land. "Ludi" stands as a significant contribution to the cinematic exploration of diasporic experiences within the Afro-Caribbean context.

Directed by Edson Jean, USA, 2021, 81 Minutes, drama, English and Haitian Creole with English subtitles

"Jean's "Ludi" is the type of low-stakes drama that's easy to root for, and even more wonderful to see" - Robert Daniels, The Playlist

"This is one of the best films of the year so far, and that comes as a result of the hard work and dedication from everyone involved." - Kyle Bain, Film Threat

"An examination of the difficulties inherent in that so-called American Dream, with a magnetic lead performance from Shein Mompremier. Ludi is a charming, tragic, painful, and beautiful film to behold." -Aaron PetersonHollywood Outsider 



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MALUALA

MALUALA

Regular price $245.00
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MALUALA 

DIRECTED BY SERGIO GIRAL
CUBA / 1979 / SPANISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES / 95 MIN

SYNOPSIS

Maluala takes us into a palenque, a settlement of escaped slaves hidden somewhere in Cuba's eastern mountains, where discord is sown between black "kings" by clever subversives working for the Spanish government.

"Sergio Giral is the best known of the Black Cuban directors and his previous films were historical observations of the period of slavery in Cuba, the gradual rise of rebellion against colonial traditions, and the ultimate freedom that resulted. Maluala is the most striking addition to this genre. The action takes place during the last century in the region of Maluala. Gallo, the black chieftain, together with his cohort, Coba, present a petition for land and liberty to the colonial government. Governor Escudero offers liberty if the rebellious villages will be dismantled and their men offer themselves in surrender. He promises that they will be freed shortly thereafter. Three chieftains agree, but Gallo and Coba refuse... Giral has mounted Maluala with colorful ritual and acting. Samuel Claxton, as Gallo, is highly stylized in the heroic tradition. It is an absorbing adventure film wrought from historical events which appear violent, but Giral constantly implants into every image the necessity for unity among people in order to combat man's seemingly casual desire to subjugate mankind, in the struggle for power and undefined ambition." 
~ /San Francisco Film Festival, 1980/

"The historically lucid intrigues of Maluala (1979), where the Afrocentric leadership of fugitive palenque communities is pitted against each other COINTELPRO-style by Spanish colonists, is one of those Cuban films that were forged in a righteous, red-hot ferment but still found the courage and wit to ask questions about the society around them." ~ Gary Dauphin, The Village Voice

DIRECTOR AND CAST

Director: Sergio Giral
Starring: Samuel Claxton
Starring: Adolfo Llauradó
Starring: Raúl Pomares
 

GENRES

  • Historical Drama 
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MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE
MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE
MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE
MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE
MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE
MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE
MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE
MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE
MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE
MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE
MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE
MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE

MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE

Regular price $445.00
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MARIGHELLA

After fighting censorship for two years in Brazil, MARIGHELLA became #1 at the Box Office in Brazil.

Marighella is a new Brazilian action drama set in 1969 based on the life of Afro-Brazilian politician and guerrilla fighter Carlos Marighella. Facing a violent military dictatorship and with little support from a timid opposition, writer-turned-politician Carlos Marighella organizes a resistance movement. Alongside revolutionaries 30 years younger than him and willing to fight, the revolutionary leader opts for action. The film is adapted from the biography Marighella - O Guerrilheiro que Incendiou o Mundo, by Mario Magalhaes. Brazilian musical artist, songwriter, and actor Seu Jorge plays Carlos Marighella.

Directed by Wagner Moura, 2019, Brazil, 155min, historical action drama, Portuguese w/ English subtitles

* Berlinale 2019 | Official Selection - Out of Competition
* INTERNATIONAL INDEPENDENT CRITICS PRIZE (Premio Giuseppe Becce)
* ONE OF SCREEN CRITICS' TOP FILMS FROM BERLIN 2019

"Angry and brutally necessary for the Brazil of today, Marighella is put together coolly and confidently by the green [Wagner] Moura." ~ One Room With A View

"Marighella works fine as an exciting and highly assured debut, with a terrific ensemble cast at its heart." ~ Hollywood Reporter

Visit film site 

 

THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE

DIRECTED BY JOEL ZITO ARAUJO
BRAZIL / 1997 / PORTUGUESE WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES / 38 MIN

SYNOPSIS

On March 13, 1992, Vicente Francisco do Espirito Santo, a Black Brazilian who worked in a government-owned electricity company, was fired from his job.  It did not take long for him to realize that his dismissal was directly linked to his skin color.  Encouraged by his union and a strong Black empowerment movement, he began a judicial process which he won, and as a result was reinstated in his former position.  This informative documentary about an unknown victory illustrates how the courts of Brazil did recognize the company's prejudice and racism in a country where such realities are usually dismissed as atypical. 

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MESTIZO

MESTIZO

Regular price $195.00
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MESTIZO 

DIRECTED BY MARIO HANDLER 
VENEZUELA / 1989 / SPANISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES  / 82 MIN

SYNOPSIS

The action takes place in a village on the Venezuelan coast, a place of fishermen and big haciendas. Jose Ramon, son of a white aristocrat and a humble black fisher-women, is trying to define his own identity while dealing with social and sexual conflicts, power, culture, the law, and the impossible relationship he has with both his parents.

DIRECTOR AND CAST

Director: Mario Handler
Starring: Marcos Moreno
Starring: Zezé Motta
Starring: Aldo Tulian
 

GENRES

  • Drama 
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Mother Suriname / Mama Sranan

Mother Suriname / Mama Sranan

Regular price $395.00
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Mama Suriname (Mama Sranan)

Mother Suriname – Mama Sranan is a deep and evocative portrayal of Suriname's history and the personal story it weaves. Its effectiveness in bringing Surinamese history to life, makes it a significant contribution to understanding the country's cultural and historical landscape.

A woman looks back on her life, through narration and song. In Mother Suriname – Mama Sranan, filmmaker Tessa Leuwsha uses a stream of fascinating colorized archival footage to illustrate the lives of Surinamese women like her grandmother, who was a washerwoman.

She’s born in a hamlet in 1905 to a white mother and a black father—a disgrace. Her father is forced to leave and her mother also disappears. She’s despised as a half-caste, does not go to school and soon becomes aware of the state of colonial relations (“we work and they watch”). She has a child whose father is always elsewhere, working for the Dutch. Determined to make the most of her life, she moves to Paramaribo, where she has three more children she raises on her own.

Meanwhile, she sees her homeland moving towards more self-esteem. Before Suriname’s independence in 1975 however, all her children move to the Netherlands—and she eventually follows them, with sorrow in her heart: “In Holland, paradise is like a shadow, just in front of you or behind you, never with you.” Still, strong-willed as she is, she finds a place where she connects with her homeland, her spiritual roots and herself.

"Not only a biography but also a portrait of a colony on the road to independence." ~ Pauline Kleijer for De Volkskrant 

"A breathtaking journey through the history of Suriname." ~ Guus Schulting for De Filmkrant

Directed by Tessa Leuwsha, 2023, 71 minutes, Documentary, Netherlands, Dutch (with English subtitles)

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NATAL DA PORTELA

NATAL DA PORTELA

Regular price $195.00
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NATAL DA PORTELA

DIRECTED BY PAULO CEZAR SARACENI
BRAZIL / 1988 / PORTUGUESE WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES / 100 MIN

SYNOPSIS

The name ‘Natal da Portela’ is historically attached to the cultural identity of Brazil. Natal da Portela created the first escola de samba in Rio de Janeiro. The schools of samba are the soul of carnival in Brazil and major reservoirs of Afro-Brazilian culture. The film depicts the life of Natal da Portela as a young man from the favelas--the slums of the northern part of Rio de Janeiro--up to the creation of “la Portela”, the school of samba he created. The principal role played by Milton Goncalves, one of the major Black actors in Brazil, gives the story an authentic flavor rarely seen in films portraying the contemporary life of Black people in Brazil. This is a film filled with joy, music and laughter. “Natal da Portela” is also a film that narrates the story of contemporary Brazil and the legacy of African people in that country. Several other major actors enrich the story, Zeze Mota well known for her role in “Quilombo” and the dean of Black Brazilian actors, the great Grande Otello much remembered for his major role in Rio Zona Norte and Macunaima just to mention a few titles.

DIRECTOR AND CAST

Director: Paulo Cezar Saraceni
Starring: Zezé Motta
Starring: Milton Gonçalves
Starring: Almir Guineto
 

GENRES

  • Drama 
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PLACIDO, THE BLOOD OF THE POET

PLACIDO, THE BLOOD OF THE POET

Regular price $195.00
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PLACIDO, THE BLOOD OF THE POET 

DIRECTED BY SERGIO GIRAL 
CUBA / 1986 / SPANISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES / 96 MIN

SYNOPSIS

Placido portraits the dramatic story of Gabriel de la Concepcio Valdes (Placido), a mulatto Cuban poet accused of leading a conspiracy against the Spanish colonial government. Preoccupied by the development of Afro-Hispanic artist and craftsmen of the mid XIX century, Placido was executed after living a short and controversial life as a man between two races and between a cruel reality and a dream of freedom.

DIRECTOR AND CAST

Director: Sergio Giral
 

GENRES

  • Drama 
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POWER ALLEY (LEVANTE)
POWER ALLEY (LEVANTE)
POWER ALLEY (LEVANTE)
POWER ALLEY (LEVANTE)
POWER ALLEY (LEVANTE)
POWER ALLEY (LEVANTE)
POWER ALLEY (LEVANTE)
POWER ALLEY (LEVANTE)
POWER ALLEY (LEVANTE)
POWER ALLEY (LEVANTE)
POWER ALLEY (LEVANTE)
POWER ALLEY (LEVANTE)

POWER ALLEY (LEVANTE)

Regular price $395.00
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POWER ALLEY / LEVANTE


The compelling Brazilian drama - 2023 Cannes Film Festival Semaine de la Critique selection - Power Alley (Levante) by Lillah Halla is a poignant exploration of the challenges faced by young women in contemporary Brazil, particularly around issues of reproductive rights and gender identity.  
It tells the story of Sofia (17), a promising volleyball player from a humble suburb of São Paulo in Brazil who, on the eve of a future-defining championship, is faced with an unwanted pregnancy. Seeking an illegal termination, she becomes the target of a fundamentalist group determined to stop her at any cost.

The film delves into the challenges Sofia faces in her community, dominated by conservative values. Her extraordinary talent offers her a glimpse of a different life, but she soon finds herself at a crossroads when unforeseen circumstances threaten her future.

The narrative explores themes of community, resilience, and self-expression, as Sofia and her diverse group of friends, who are rebellious and supportive, navigate these trials. Their solidarity and collective strength form the core of this vibrant and emotionally charged story, showcasing the power of unity and defiance in the face of adversity. This film is a testament to the fierce spirit of youth and the unyielding pursuit of freedom and agency.

"A punchy, confrontational energy infuses this celebration of queer sisterhood in the face of Brazilian conservatism,"  Screen Daily

"The context of the team environment being a highly queer space, complete with trans and non-binary players... gives the notion of overcoming an unwanted pregnancy a unique charge: with a far-right, Bolsonaroist group catching wind of her situation as neighborhood gossip circulates...," Cineuropa

"...This spirited feature debut from Lillah Halla is a vivid, dynamic piece of filmmaking driven by the sparky connections between the teammates and a terrific, pulsing electronic score," ~ Screen Daily

Brazil/France/Uruguay, 2023, 99 mins, drama in Portuguese (With English subtitles), Lillah Halla, dir. 

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