by Jasmin Carroll

Say Amen Somebody!

It’s a shame ticket holders were loathed to get out of bed early for this gospel documentary that kicked off the series. The film follows Thomas Dorsey (Precious Lord) and Willie Mae Ford Smith, two pioneers in gospel music. Dorsey shares in the pain that brought him to God’s face after his wife’s death, thereby bringing about the classic spiritual, “Precious Lord”. Willie Mae, also in her latter years, speaks of being a wife and mother all while singing the gospel before gospel had a name. The production gathers these stories while Ford prepares for her tribute concert featuring the Barrett Sisters (a must have) and the O’Neal Twins. The filmmakers deserve all types of points for letting the music speak for itself. It’s hard not to remember you love God when you see His faithful worship Him though their bodies grow weary. For more movies that matter visit www.gtnpictures.com.

Standing On My Sisters Shoulders

“I eagerly hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ shall be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:20)

There was really no reprieve, so next we had “Standing on My Sisters Shoulders” a film that should be shown in social studies classes up and down these United States. We all know about the strong black men that made the civil rights movement possible. In this film we see that the black women of this time, such as Fanny Lou Hammer, Anne Devine and Betty Pearson, found [themselves] able to speak out collectively. This was mostly due to the fact that black men had reason to fear greater repercussions. They could lose their jobs, or even lose their lives over taking a stand. Even though black women fighting for rights did suffer violence, those opposing civil rights were least likely to fight with women openly. So, demonstrations and sit-ins had sisters, both black and white, making up the difference in numbers. The film shows us that they were more likely to be left alone for fear of public opinion in a society where equal rights was beginning to sound like the right thing to do. For more details visit www.sisters-shoulders.org.

Tsotsi

“An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.” (Proverbs 29:22)

The series’ main event was South African feature film “Tsotsi.” Tsotsi captured the black experience (as did the other documentaries on the list), but stood out as only a narrative can. It is set in Africa instead of America, and leaves you feeling uneasy and anxious because you don’t know how the story of this “thug” (English translation for tsotsi), is going to end. With a documentary you take comfort in the fact that it is history and ends in the way it has to end so that hopefully in our own lives we can have happier endings, greater victories as a whole. In Tsotsi, the story of this young man living in the ghettos of South Africa, who commits violence without blinking or showing remorse, the tragedy is more singular. The filmmakers have already created a life spinning out of control and it is easy to believe that you might leave the film feeling hopeless. One person representing so many more lost, and if he is lost then we all are. You’d have to rent the Oscar winning film to find out if there is any hope, or if his world does ultimately come to an end. For more info visit www.tsotsimovie.com.

For more information on the DC Urban Film Series visit www.urbanfilmseries.com.