Selma and the 15th.
14:34'It arrested me'.
That's what Queen Lupita N'yongo said about 'Selma' and it couldn't be truer.
I've been gunning hard for this film since I heard about it in December and I will continue to until God knows when.
'Selma' is probably the most relevant film out right now. Like Common says in his (Oscar nominated of as today) song 'Glory', 'Selma is now for every man, woman and child'.
The pressing racial injustice that we see in Ferguson - young black boys being shot and left to bleed with their mothers watching; black fathers choked to death in broad daylight; hoses being used to bring down black people as they fight for their basic human rights.
It is harrowing to think of this and then watch the events unfold in 'Selma'.
The two go hand in hand.
Ava DuVernay, my queen whom I tweet to tell her so and ask her to teach me (she favourited my tweet as well guys!!), does a fantastic job, bringing to life the excellent, tight and clear script by Paul Webb.
Me and Queen Ava are alike in our love for long scenes.
Hers are unflinching, unnerving.
It's even worse when you know what is coming - at the start of the film, we see four little black girls going down the stairs and they were having such a normal conversation. Their accents, their surroundings, I took it all in knowing what was about to happen. And when it did, it hurt me so much more because we had a glimpse into their short but sweet lives.
'Selma' boasts what I can only call raw emotion.
Sometimes it's touching such as when David Oyelowo delivers a speech directly to the camera ergo us, and sometimes it's uncomfortable, like a scene where Coretta (the force that is Carmen Ejogo) confronts her husband about his infidelity. There's a pregnant pause that could cause your heart to break - that scene alone boasts so much power.
Bloody Sunday is the scene that broke me.
I watched, crying, in horror as my people were attacked on the bridge.
The scene switched from slow motion to a quick pace, which just made it so surreal.
A white journalist narrated the scene, even he was choking back tears as he relayed he events to someone on the phone.
We saw both white and black reactions to Bloody Sunday - tears and laughter, happiness and pain
White men on horseback whipping tear gassed black men and women. It was so brutal, so real and I just kept of thinking this is not far fetched at all. This is literally still happening.
Ava intertwined a scene with real footage into the movie and it was simy beautiful. It was a march, and in the real footage we see famous black people marching amongst others. There's a shot of a little black boy sitting on an old man's lap and tears literally spring to my eyes as I write this. I loved it.
Every performance and I mean every, was a knockout in it's own right.
Don't get me started on my fellow Nigerian, Mr David Oyelowo, whose accent alone should be a front runner for the Academy Award for Best Actor but for some strange reason, his outstanding performance was not nominated.
Hmm, *sips tea whilst staring at the Academy twitter page*
On a lighter note, the ending of the film.
*exhales*
Guys, the freaking ending.
David/Martin delivered part of a certain famous post declaring 'mine eyes have seen the glory'. It is not possible for this to have been more direct.
He is talking to me. To you. And I was completely immersed in the rush of it all. I sat in front of the screen, wrapped in my blanket, shouting 'GLORAAAYYY' waving my hand like a grandma feeling the praise in church.
And I think that's what Ava, Paul and everyone wanted. For us to feel. And I certainly did.
*written whilst listening to Common and John Legend - Glory.
Glory to God.
This has been my favourite post. I actually love 'Selma' so much and it really resonates with me. I'm all emotional just writing this post and I just want to share it with you. I hope you see 'Selma' and tell me how you felt - love or hate.
This has been my favourite post. I actually love 'Selma' so much and it really resonates with me. I'm all emotional just writing this post and I just want to share it with you. I hope you see 'Selma' and tell me how you felt - love or hate.
I also love Ava and everyone involved with this film, freaking Brad Pitt, who has been helping produce 'black films'.
Thank you all.
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