I love what they say about the gentleness in making this film, behind the camera -- you can feel that -- and that's so antithetical to almost everything going on right now...and that gentleness, vulnerability, respectful, slow, carefulness without fear, love is in all our hearts and is the very best part of being human.
LOVED it. Thank you guys and thanks for sharing, when my kids are older they'll watch again, and so will I. Bravo Bravo Bravo Love Love Love thank you!
When I lived in San Francisco (until recently) when I would point out things like that to someone in the tech world---they would say with a straight face---clearly feeling very virtuous and noble, so much so that they nearly brought tears to their own eyes: "This is us---giving back." I once said, "But why TAKE so much in the first place that you have to pay penance and 'give back'?" and that was pretty much the end of that conversation and friendship.
I hear you, but in my opinion the color of the director's skin is irrelevant. He obviously has a sensitivity to the subject, has approached the material respectfully, and has surrounded himself with a strong black cast who respects him and the story he wanted to tell. That's what should be most important. (and this is coming from a black filmmaker).
Kevin H Wilson of course I always judge the movie at the end of the day... it just wouldve been cool. Especially Me Coming from SF. But I know the movie will be good
Kareem, I understand your persepective. I'm an SF Native as well. I was excited when my Hubby told me about this film! I hope the film lives up to its promo! Have you seen Medicine for Melancholy? Barry Jenkins is the Director. His film was the last powerful film that I've seen touching this vein by an African American Writer & Director. P.S. I believe Jimmie Fails may have co-wrote, but we do know story development is from his life growing up in SF!
SPOILERS: Without being too spoilery I feel like this film isn't even as much about gentrification as it is about justifying things that aren't truly yours and living in a fantasy to make yourself sleep at night. Everybody is talking about the themes in relation to him being the last black man in san francisco and Jimmie fighting for his home when it's not even his. Jimmie and Mont are literally criminals trespassing and breaking into a home that is not theres and they have no justification for their actions. The world doesn't work like that. I feel like the film is so amazing because it sells the viewer this dream, this fantasy that isn't true. Jimmie's rhetoric along with the score is s romanticized that it makes us want to root for Jimmie even though in reality he's probably the bad guy. But we, just like Jimmie, justify our actions to make us feel better. This film, for me at least, is much more about identity and being more than your home, more than your city, rather than it is about gentrification.
