Cooley High
Directed by Michael Schultz
107 min | United States | 1975
Set in early 1960s Chicago, Cooley High follows best friends Leroy “Preach” Jackson and Richard “Cochise” Morris as they navigate their senior year at Cooley Vocational School near Cabrini-Green. Between everyday adventures, neighborhood tensions, and dreams of the future, they imagine lives far beyond the confines of their community. Directed by Michael Schultz and written by Eric Monte, this heartfelt coming-of-age classic weaves humor, energy, and poignancy in its portrait of friendship, ambition, and the challenges of growing up.
In collaboration with Kennedy-King College, Englewood Arts Collective, and Grow Greater Englewood, this screening of Cooley High marks the film’s 50th anniversary and includes a post-screening discussion.
About the Director
Michael Schultz, born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1938, is a pioneering African American director whose work has profoundly influenced both Black cinema and the broader cultural landscape. In 1975, Schultz directed Cooley High, a groundbreaking film that offered an authentic portrayal of Black adolescence in 1960s Chicago. The film’s success, grossing over $13 million, marked a significant achievement for Black filmmakers. Following Cooley High, Schultz directed Car Wash (1976), which was nominated for the Cannes Film Festival’s Palme d’Or and won the Grand Prix Technique. He continued to collaborate with Richard Pryor on films like Which Way Is Up? (1977) and Bustin’ Loose (1981). Schultz also directed Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978), the largest budget ever entrusted to an African American director at that time.
Sponsor(s)
Event Information
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
6:30pm
Kennedy-King College
740 W 63rd Street
Chicago, IL 60621
Tickets
All Community Cinema screenings are free and open to the public. Advance registration is suggested. Learn more about Community Screenings…
Special Guests
WGN TV Entertainment Producer Tyra Martin, casting director Pemon Rami, and Grow Greater Englewood co-founder Anton Seals, Jr.
Accessibility
Cinema/Chicago is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible environment at all our programs and events. All event venues are fully wheelchair accessible, with no-step entrances or ramp access and elevators. All venues offer wheelchair-designated spaces, companion seating, easy-access theater seating, and accessible restrooms. For accommodation requests, please email us at access@chicagofilmfestival.com, call us at 312-683-0121, x108, or complete our Accommodation Request Form.
212 W Van Buren St., Suite 400
