Summaries

A documentary about the experiences of black homosexual men living in the United States of America.

Marlon Riggs, with assistance from other gay Black men, especially poet Essex Hemphill, celebrates Black men loving Black men as a revolutionary act. The film intercuts footage of Hemphill reciting his poetry, Riggs telling the story of his growing up, scenes of men in social intercourse and dance, and various comic riffs, including a visit to the "Institute of Snap!thology," where men take lessons in how to snap their fingers: the sling snap, the point snap, the diva snap. The film closes with obituaries for victims of AIDS and archival footage of the civil rights movement placed next to footage of Black men marching in a gay pride parade.—<[email protected]>

Details

Keywords
  • national film registry
  • african american
  • gay
  • male frontal nudity
  • homosexuality
Genres
  • Documentary
Release date Jun 30, 1989
Motion Picture Rating (MPA) Not Rated
Countries of origin United States
Language English
Filming locations Oakland, California, USA
Production companies Signifyin' Works

Box office

Tech specs

Runtime 55m
Color Color
Sound mix Mono
Aspect ratio 1.33 : 1

Synopsis

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