Film Countries Archives: U.S.

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Shorts 3: Black Perspectives

  Various

  Kenya, Nigeria, U.S.     87 minutes

Synopsis

Close ties abound in these short films spanning Brazil, Kenya, Nigeria, and the U.S. These six shorts explore the complicated relationships between parents and children, aunts and nieces, artists and their craft, and even former lovers.

In Breastmilk, first-time mother Aduke confronts societal expectations and the dynamics of her closest relationships as she struggles to breast feed. When a college student returns home for her grandmother’s repass, she gets a heavy dose of the best and worst her family has to offer in Them That’s Not. History and tradition live through contemporary musician Brandee Younger as she plays a specialized harp made for Alice Coltrane, gifted to Brandee by Alice’s children in Isis & Osiris. Not Dead displays modern-day exploration of W.E.B DuBois’s seminal work, portraying the heartbreaks of the Black experience across space and time. Victoria is a clear-eyed portrait of a single mother and businesswoman making it work in Nairobi, Kenya. The enemies-to-lovers trope jumps from page to reality when two voice actors butt heads in Narrated By.

 American Sign Language, English, Portuguese 

Content Considerations

Screenings & Events

There are currently no upcoming screenings of this film.

Sponsors

Documentary Program Partner

Logo: WTTW (2019)

Documentary Program Patron

Cynthia Stone Raskin

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A woman and her husband, adorned in traditional formal garb, sit together under a crowded party tent.

Breastmilk

  Ifeyinwa Arinze

  U.S., Nigeria     16 minutes

Synopsis

When new mother Aduke struggles to breastfeed, she encounters suggestions ranging from modern medical consultants to local folk remedies. As the women in her community rally in her corner, she gains the courage to turn an eye toward the negativity seeping into her family life.

This film screens as part of Shorts Program 3: Black Perspectives.

  

 English 

Film Credits

  •   Gabriela Azevedo, Chioma Onyenwe, Ifeyinwa Arinze
  •   Ifeyinwa Arinze, 'Pemi Aguda
  •   Ifeyinwa Arinze
  •   Dominica Eriksen
  •   Meg Otanwa, Taye Arimoro
  •   Pierre Oberkampf
  •   https://www.ifeyinwaarinze.com/#/breastmilkshort/

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A group of 20-somethings gather excitedly to smoke in the backyard, dressed in all black.

Them That’s Not

  Mekhai Lee

  U.S.     19 minutes

Synopsis

Drea belongs to a family that loves to judge each other, even in the middle of grief. A return to her late grandmother’s house forces a reckoning with how she’s viewed by her extended family—and a reunion with her incarcerated father for the first time in years.

This film screens as part of Shorts Program 3: Black Perspectives.

  

 English, American Sign Language 

Film Credits

  •   Charlie Hopkins, Redd Coltrane
  •   Mekhai Lee
  •   CJ Duncan
  •   Sade Ndya
  •   Angel Theory, Biko Eisen-Martin, Carrie Compere
  •   Nick D'angiolillo, Wesley Adams, Sophia Dilley, Bob Valentine, Rob Laqui

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A woman in a red and yello sweater plays a large harp in a recordoinmg studio with brightly colored walls

Isis & Osiris

  Ephraim Asili

  U.S.     19 minutes

Synopsis

Brandee Younger takes us through her journey as a musician, her path to learning harp, and eventually finding the works of Alice Coltrane. Her story is beautifully accompanied by her own performances using the harp that was gifted to her in 1968.

This film screens as part of Shorts Program 3: Black Perspectives.

  

 English 

Film Credits

  •   Ephraim Asili, Vic Brooks, Marcus Werner Hed
  •   Ephraim Asili
  •   Ephraim Asili
  •   Ephraim Asili
  •   Brandee Younger
  •   Brandeee Younger
  •   Ephraim Asili, Vic Brooks, Marcus Werner Hed
  •   AsiliVision

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A woman with intricate braids stands in front of a gate, with a colorful balloon display by her side.

Victoria

  Sam Soko

  U.S. Kenya     12 minutes

Synopsis

We join Victoria during the most hectic week of her year as a helium balloon saleswoman. As we follow her from one children’s birthday party to another, we also get an intimate look at her new beginning in life as a divorced, single mother.

This film screens as part of Shorts Program 3: Black Perspectives.

  

 English 

Film Credits

  •   Mike Paterson, Heidi Fleisher
  •   Sam Soko
  •   Sam Soko
  •   Nyasha Kadandara
  •   Will Fich
  •   Jessica Harrop, Patrick Hurley
  •   LBx Africa
  •   https://www.lbxafrica.com/film/victoria

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