1 of 2

Editor's note: We asked Christine and Michael Swanson, African-American filmmakers and owners of Faith Filmworks, Inc., to compile this list.

Buy DVD

From the pen of playwright Lorraine Hansberry comes this great American classic-the quintessential black urban drama long before the likes of Boyz 'n the Hood. This film boldly examines the plight of the black working class family in a moving and realistic fashion, with strong and memorable performances from an extraordinary cast. Black dramas no longer get made on any level, much less a level as poignant and significant as this film. Sidney Poitier is Walter Lee Younger, a young man struggling with his station in life. Sharing a tiny apartment with his wife, son, sister and mother, he seems like an imprisoned man. Until, that is, the family gets an unexpected financial windfall. Also stars stage and screen legend Ruby Dee.

Buy DVD

A powerful film directed by Tim Reid and starring Al Freeman, Jr. and Phylicia Rashad. Tim Reid succeeds in touching the consciousness of black America and America as a whole by highlighting the struggles of a young boy growing up in a separated and racist South. This film eloquently reminds us that black people have come a long way while wrapping its message in a touching narrative. This independently made film-like A Raisin in the Sun-should be applauded for being a significant black drama at a time when such films are no longer made by a Hollywood studio system. Great cast and performances.

Nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Actress in a Leading Role for Diana Ross, this film chronicles the rise and fall of legendary blues singer Billie Holiday-including her late childhood stint as a prostitute, early tours, marriages and drug addiction. Ross's portrayal is utterly moving, and there's a noteworthy performance by Richard Pryor. The story alone was Oscar-worthy, but Ross certainly should have garnered the Oscar for Best Actress. Lady Sings the Blues was the perfect package from the script to the performances, from the score to the music. This film made us a believer of Ross' chops as an actress.

Buy DVD

Based on the book by Alice Walker, this compelling story follows the life of Celie, a young black girl growing up in the early 1900s. We stay with her for the next 30 years of her tough life. It's a very important story rich in commentaries about the human condition, black people's identity and role in the rural South, the internal struggle for personal identity, the longing to understand one's personal history, and more. On top of those very poignant themes, the film boasts stellar performances from an impeccable ensemble cast including newcomers Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey. Add to that Spielberg's keen sensibilities as a director and you have a deeply memorable film. Nominated for 11 Academy Awards.

Buy VHS

Writer Charles Burnett directed an impeccable performance by Danny Glover in this insightful drama about family life, class struggles, sibling rivalry and strained friendships. Here is a film that boldly tackles the idiosyncrasies of family life, told through the perspective of a black family. The subtleties of this film are so profound that on a first pass, you might miss them. The brilliance of Burnett is palpable in the delicate relationships he creates for his characters and the conflicts they face as they discover things about themselves and each other that they never knew.

This Spike Lee film, perhaps his most important work, created a national dialogue on race, racial tension and racism in America. It's the hottest day of the year in the Bed-Stuy district of Brooklyn, and tensions are growing in this black neighborhood with the only local businesses a Korean grocery and Sal's Italian Pizzeria. This film pushes buttons and raises questions in a direct but perhaps necessary way to stimulate dialogue. Lee's longtime cinematographer, Ernest Dickerson, creates a look that lends itself beautifully to the story and its tension and climate. Songs on the film's popular soundtrack, including Public Enemy's "Fight the Power," became summer anthems throughout many neighborhoods.

next page... |  1 of 2 | last page

Related Elsewhere:

Redeeming Black Films	Printer view
Hollywood's black movies often depict negative stereotypes—gangs, violence—or revel in buffoonery, a la White Chicks and Soul Plane. But Michael and Christine Swanson are trying to change that, one film at a time.