22ackermann:alanspazzaliartist: Stills from “Looking for Langston” (1989, UK) directed b
22ackermann:alanspazzaliartist: Stills from “Looking for Langston” (1989, UK) directed by Isaac Julien. ..In his poetic film Julien (b. 1960) is less interested in presenting a biographical examination of Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes (1901 - 1967) than using the figure of Hughes to explore larger issues of black gay identity, desire, and historical repression. The experimental style of the film weaves together poetry, lyrical fantay sequences, historical photographs, archival newsreel footage, and, in the most striking setpiece of the film, imagines a glamorous Prohibition-era speakeasy where black men can gather together to dance together, socialize, and drink outside the confines of society’s racism and homophobia. Upon its initial release in the United States the Hughes estate —which continues to officially deny the possibility that the poet might have been queer —accused the film of copyright violation and tried to have the film suppressed, but it has since became rightly recognized as a major cinematic achievement (and on a more personal note, it is one of my favorite films). .. In SEARCH of……….No.1 -- source link