The Culturist Film Club - Online: Burning An Illusion & Born in Flames (June 28)
For the month of June, the film club will focus on the theme of resistance.
With news of racism, injustices and protests in America and other parts of the world, join me in a discussion about these two films and their wider historical and cultural context. Additionally, I’m seeing a lot of empty Black Lives Matter talk locally and regionally that are tone deaf to existing discriminations closer to home, so would like to address those issues too in the discussions.
For the last week of the resistance series, I’d like to propose a double bill.
Burning An Illusion
Director: Menelik Shabazz
1980, UK, 101 min
A young black woman in England becomes increasingly frustrated with her life with her lazy, demanding boyfriend, and with the help of friends seeks something better.
"A love story that traces the emotional and political growth of a young black couple in Thatcher's London, it was the first British film to give a central voice to a black woman, charting her journey to emotional maturity, emancipation and political awakening." - BFI
How to watch: Available to rent or buy on Vimeo.
Online film club discussion date:Sunday, June 28 at 8.00pm (UAE / GST)
Register:Send an email with the subject line RSVP BURN DOUBLE BILL to hind.mezaina@gmail.com by June 28, 2.00pm (UAE / GST).
Discussion format:Group session on Google Meet (available to users without a Google Account). A link will be sent after receiving your registration.
Born in Flames
Director: Lizzie Borden
1983, USA, 80 min
The movie that rocked the foundations of the early Indie film world, this provocative, thrilling classic is a fantasy of female rebellion set in America ten years after a social democratic cultural revolution. When Adelaide Norris, the black radical founder of the Woman’s Army, is mysteriously killed, a diverse coalition of women – across all lines of race, class, and sexual preference – emerges to blow the System apart.
Newly restored in high definition on its 35th anniversary, Born in Flames is even more relevant in today's political climate. Preserved by Anthology Film Archives with restoration funding from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and The Film Foundation.
How to watch:
Available to rent or buy on Vimeo.
Online film club discussion date:
Sunday, June 28 at 8.00pm (UAE / GST)
Register:
Send an email with the subject line RSVP BURN DOUBLE BILL to hind.mezaina@gmail.com by June 28, 2.00pm (UAE / GST).
Discussion format:
Group session on Google Meet (available to users without a Google Account). A link will be sent after receiving your registration.
About The Culturist Film Club:
The Culturist Film Club is something I started on April 19, an online activity where participants have a few days to watch a film I suggest, and then we meet online to discuss on a specific date.
My film programming for Louvre Abu Dhabi is currently on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, so I thought I’d give this a try. There are countless film viewing parties online right now, and I wanted to do something different by suggesting a film you can watch at your own pace and time, and then have a few of us get together online to talk about it.