The Watermelon Woman - Who Are We Forgetting?
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- Опубликовано: 30 мар 2018
- The moving picture is a miraculous invention. It has the potential to show a human being as they lived, long after their death. It’s the closest thing we have to immortality. However, we don’t think enough about who gets to live forever.
It’s not about awards. It’s not about quality, about prestige, about box office, or about how much a piece pushes the medium. Sometimes it’s just about who’s being shown. Whose story gets to be told. Because we’ll never know what we’ve already forgotten.
A special thanks to Jourdain Searles, without whom I couldn't even attempt to do this film justice.
All third party clips are used under Fair Use.
Follow me on Twitter: / kylekallgren
Support me on Patreon: / kkallgren
Follow Jourdain Searles on Twitter: / jourdayen
And read her work here: jourdainsearles.com/ 
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I love how right at the moment Kyle's persona was turning to self-centred flagelation, highlighting his own discomfort using the words instead of talking about the subject, Jourdain comes in and doesn't take none of his nonesense. "Stop spending this whole video talking about how you're nervous about talking about it."
Yep. She made the video for me.
Trying to be the good guy wile white and male is tricky. It's like we have the mark of Kaine or something. You can't have it derail into mansplaining, but going face-down in the dust begging for forgiveness just makes everyone cringe. The only hard solution i can think off when it comes to the gravitas inequality obstacle between skin colors is having as many mixed families as possible.
Nah... just do what Kyle did. Accept that you're coming from a position of privilege, so you give your grain of salt, and do your best to use that privilege to provide platform to other voices. Yknow, when it's a good time. And remember to support your local black film critic.
The problem, and what the kyle's persona in the video was starting to do, was to egotistically focus on themselves in relation to the subject of race, instead of talking about the topic they were supposed to talk about. That's just more egotism coming from a position of power, it's making it about yourself, instead of about the topic. Which is why the persona needed Jourdain to get things back on track.
Cute Justice Nah that backfires too because so many people use it as an excuse. A dude used the n word in front of me, and when I called him out on it said “its okay I’m part black.” I told him “So what I’m part black too.” I mean I am through my mothers side, but we don’t look black, we haven’t had to deal with the racism against black people for generations, so we don’t think we can take that mantle anymore than we can take up our jewish blood because we have it but aren’t jewish.
What we can do is observe and learn and speak out against injustice and work against it while acknowledging that we can’t ever feel or really know what it is like to be black(or a man, or a woman, or any other demographic) but we can see wrong from right and call it out. My two cents, I have never been told by black people that I don’t have a right to talk about racism, its usually welcomed if you are sincere and willing to listen.
"Black women are not my speciality"
"Of course they aren't, look at you!"
Damn near killed myself laughing at that exchange! XD
James Baskett's story is quite sad. He had to drop out of pharmacology school for financial reasons, and ended up becoming an actor to support himself. When Walt Disney cast him as Uncle Remus in Song of the South he wasn't even allowed to attend the movie's opening night due to his race. He died that year in 1948, though he did win an Honorary Academy Award for his performance. Nowadays that movie is all but banned due to its questionable handling of racial issues in the South, which is kinda sad since Baskett gives one of the most loveable performances I've ever seen and "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" is like a delicious parfait for the ears. I'm not saying the film is a masterpiece, but it should never be entirely forgotten.
Mr Shambleface Agreed! And thanks for teaching me about the history of that actor how sad.
If nothing else they should release the animated scenes- a mainstream representation of African American folklore, with characters based on west African tales
And in the mid-century, and in the mainstream
You have no idea how much singing zip a dee do da makes me feel a lot better when I’m having a hard day at work. Baskett really was a gentle giant.
I give credit to Warner for releasing their "banned" Looney Tunes shorts with the disclaimer that basically reads that these were products of their day and that we shouldn't pretend that it never happened.
In fact, he is the first and only voice actor thanks to performing as Br'er Fox to win an Oscar for a Voice Performance. Granted not on the Oscar, but in context of the film and character, it is official.
I burst into tears around the 5:30 mark. When it was revealed she had to invent a person just to find herself in film history. It hit me, so hard. I rarely cry, and i just broke. Things, are improving, god bless they are. But I had no trans role-models growing up. I had buffalo fucking bill. My pastor later told me about a Deniro film where he works with a transwoman. it was... okay. I took to expressing myself in my own written stories, but it wasn't until I made one of my characters trans that I started to piece myself fully together. I too had to invent my own representation. This should be a huge sign to everyone, and its a sign that's been there for damn near forever, that we need greater diversity of representation. Of all minorities and intersections. I'm a white transwoman, so I can scarcely imagine what transfolk of color must go through. Having stories where you can see someone like you is so vital, and you never realize how vital til you lack it.
Tiberia 1313 I appreciate you sharing!
I know I don't know you, but I'm proud of you for creating the stories YOU need--the representation you want to see, and we will all benefit from that creativity and your cultural contribution!
But Buffalo Bill wasn't trans. That's a plot point in the movie, and why he kidnaps women.
Channel9001 He wasn’t, but from what I understand, the movie doesn’t really explain him being not Trans very well. Also, it was the closest thing there was at the time to Trans representation on screen.
By Eru the All-Parent, how fun would it be to see a horror movie where Transgender people are the good guys for once? I’m Cis White Male, for the record. Don’t know my sexuality.
Well, Hannibal explains to Clarrise Buffalo Bill's M.O. and he briefly mentions that Bill thinks he's transsexual, but his doctors wouldn't give him a sex change because he isn't. He's crazy. That's why he's kidnapping and skinning women. But you're right, it's not a very well explained.
I'm sure a horror movie about trans people being the heroes would be good for that community. Probably not something I'd watch.
Not gonna lie, Kyle. As a white man also in a relationship with a proud black woman (11 years, married 6) I related so hard to the section between you and your gf. It's conversation that needs to happen and you do need to know these things and what's okay and not and why and in that exchange, you need to ask questions and not answer or reject the answers. Let that be known to anyone curious about dating outside of your race and specifically of the black persuasion. If it doesn't come up right away, it will. If you don't bring it up, they will. Pick your moment and ask, shut up, and listen. There are still things I learn about to this day that blows my mind and it's only made me a better partner to the love of my life. This should be a goal of all relationships regardless of race, but it is also more necessary in IRRs. Welcome to the swirl world, Kyle.
Thanks to Jourdain for all her commentary and for just being so cool in general!
Fermin Tenava I agree. She actually made the video for me.
@@tatehildyard5332 Are they still together?
I have never been happier to have a video make me feel uncomfortable. Thanks Kyle, that was a hell of an eye opener for a very casual movie fan.
Art should make you feel uncomfortable from time to time. If a piece of media makes you reflect on how other people live and how the system challenges them in ways it doesn't challenge you, it's powerful.
Eddie Izzard as Mr. Kite!
Heck right! Two of my favourite things in the world were for a brief moment together, how do I -not- make that my avatar?
Not all art has to make you think. But some of the best art does.
If that's what they think "graphic sex images" are they've never been on the internet.
No, they're just hypocrites.
Its quite probably a case of homosexual sex appearing more "sexual" and "graphic" than hetero sex to bigots.
Did alt of you guys see that O'reilly clip where he says a lesbians couple yearbook photo was an improper display of sexuality?
Wes S Wes S Queer sexuality, even when no sexual organs are shown and it’s only kissing or even hand holding is seen as more overtly sexual and graphic than the same heterosexual sexuality. I’ve never had anyone say anything to me when walking with a girlfriend and holding hands or giving them a peck on the lips. With another guy, I get stared at, people whisper and look disapproving, sometimes people even make derogatory remarks, yell, I’ve been chased and attacked a couple of times. While it’s gotten better, I could get married to whoever I want now and people are on the whole less discriminatory, but it still happens. Especially as I’m a white dude and sometimes the other dude is not.
Apologies if you knew that already, honestly it just felt good to let it out, even anonymously on the internet.
Well, it was 1996, so probably not the internet. I think you could just buy porn on video back then.
That comment could also easily be attributed to the MPAA. How many times have we seen an R rated or NC-17 rated movies that are said to include "Explicit Sexual Content," only to see some of the tamest sex scenes ever filmed.
"That was neither comical, nor a relief" I like that phrase, I'm stealing it
''This is the Netherlands, you have to answer questions.''
StationaryParticles now that is the mentality we need here with our coward politicians who can just easily get away with anything. They know how to put their feet to the fire.
Nice touch with the Story of OJ in the background. Not because it sounds really good but because it's a black creator's expression of being manipulated by white media, to the point where another successful black man used a proposed a lack of blackness to make himself appealing to white audiences, which were turned against him once he committed a crime enforcing more black stereotypes, and also points out the need for ownership by black communities in white America. But, y'know, also because it sounds really good. (Same with Cranes in the Sky)
Awsamazing Eden And the sample the song is built around is Four Women by Nina Simone, itself an extremely powerful statement about race and racism.
Kobbe As are most songs by Nina Simone
Awsamazing Eden Truth.
Kobbe Looked up this song because of your comment. Wanted to say thank you.
Roman Jones You’re very welcome.
I ended up taking a walk around my kitchen after writing my first comment and I came to realize something.
I am completely spoiled for choice for ways to view myself.
If I want to see me if I gave in to all my vices: The portrait of Dorian Grey.
If I want to fantasize about all the good I could do if I had unlimited power: Superman.
Me as a small part of a infinitely big universe: 2001 A Space Odyssey.
A friend and hero: Guardians of the Galaxy.
A loner: The Outlaw Jossie Wales
A nerd: Scott Pilgrim
A fuckup: The Big Lebowski
When it comes down to it, I have never had to seek out a reflection of myself when it came to media. Its so easy for someone like me to form a concrete identity that I never even conceptualized about being unable to. This really opened my eyes about how limited media is. Having to try so hard to find someone like you must be the most-- I don't even know. Again, thank you both.
Hi, European here. I want to thank you both for your work. Since I've started following you 2 and Lindsay, I've learnt so much more not just about filmmaking, but about cultures that aren't my own as well. You all often make me feel so often, ranging from discomfort to sadness to joy, and you've opened my eyes so often before (and now) that I think you've broadened my mind so much. I've learnt to look and observe and care far more about what my actions - a white middle class female - have as impact. So thank you, not just for this vid, but for each I've seen in the past and the ones I'll see in the future.
Also, you 2 are cute af. Really.
I just love this!We all can keep broadening our perception.
Im not even 9 minutes in and this is my favourite review you have done. As a black woman with her own RUclips channel that is supported 80% by LGBT community members, this is amazing, and I need to find this film ASAP! Great job! Plus...you had me at the almost too appropriate Jay Z instrumental!
14:15 “and a straight......... I think.” yeah I literally burst out into laughter
I love this movie. Cheryl Dunye is a professor be came a professor at my university the last year I was there. She had a Q&A session about her work (I even got to ask her a question). She is so cool.
Jennifer Esein That sounds awesome. Where did you go?
She looks and sound like cool lady plus she got very good style and she deserves the respect for be herself like most people should no matter color , gender or sexuality it should be all good..! 😃😎
She was my Directing teacher and she brought out Barry Jenkins (5 years before Moonlight) to co-teach with her. Like goddamn, so crazy to think about that now. Had a huge impact on my life and now career.
Your girlfriend said exactly what I was thinking. That was the true uncomfortable part of this video
My roommate sent me this video after talking up your channel ad nauseum. It is really REALLY good and I am excited to binge the rest of your content!
When I was a kid I had a vhs of the live-action Pippi Longstockings movie. One of the ads that played before the movie was for another vhs, a "best of" collection of a man in black face. I don't remember the actor's name, nor do I care to.
But even as a white kid growing up in late 90s/early 2000s Ireland, I knew there was something weird and awful about it, although I didn't really understand why.
As a counter point, there was a picture of a gollywog marmalade mascot in our kitchen. And I didn't know there was anything wrong with it because to me, it was an image of a toy my mother used to own. I had no idea what it represented, because I was never told. Thankfully, that picture is no longer in our kitchen because my parents also realised what message it was sending.
Anyway, great video Kyle. Death to fascism.
"No one needs to sit through ALL of Birth of a Nation."
My college Intro to Film class got around that by showing us Broken Blossoms, AKA Lucy and the Yellow Man, which D.W. Griffith made to prove he wasn't a racist. It's about Cheng Huan, a naive young Chinese Buddhist (played by a tall white man who leans over and squints) who moves to England to "spread the gentle message of Buddha to the Anglo-Saxon lands," but is overwhelmed by the poverty and despair he finds in London's notorious Limehouse district. He falls in love with Lucy, the beautiful, abused daughter of an alcoholic boxer. Lucy is so downtrodden and depressed she can only "smile" by pushing up the corners of her mouth. Their love can never be consummated, misery follows, everybody dies, the end. The portrayal of Chinese people is overall much more positive than the portrayal of black people in Birth of a Nation, but it's still an example of yellowface and still plays into a bunch of stereotypes about Asian people - Asian men are weak, passive, and prone to opium addiction, Asians can never be integrated into white society, etc.
>which D.W. Griffith made to prove he wasn't a racist
>It's about Cheng Huan, a naive young Chinese Buddhist (played by a tall white man who leans over and squints)
Bahaha that's my mom! I can't get over how cute and dorky she is in this!
I just sent your video to her! She's working on some awesome stuff right now!
Oh also funnily enough we moved to the Netherlands for 5 years cause she's been enamored with the country since she was a kid.
Simone Dunye Just curious Simone. I understand your mother came from Liberia originally. Is she of Americo-Liberian descent?
Her father is from a tribe outside of monrovia, so im assuming that side is native liberian. however her mom is african american and met my grandpa when he was in the us on a scholarship. its an interesting mix!
Simone Dunye Cool. I’m asking because I’m pretty sure Liberia started out as a colony for freed slaves.
Has your Mom seen this video yet, by the way? Did she like it?
the remnant of white american colonialism is still felt in my country of the Philippines till this day. We favor white-mixed actors with light skin. Normal looking filipinos with flat noses and dark skin only has the indie film scene to make a career out of acting or risk playing the "ugly" friend in mainstream tv and movies. Our media tells us that looking normal makes you ugly, and being mixed with white blood makes you beautiful. White america's influence has affected more cultures than you know...
Thank you and the black American woman been saying this for a very long time. White America way of putting down non white beauty, is only hiring unattractive folks that don't have white features, of other ethnic groups and calling them beautiful.
White women don't want to compete with non white images cause they can't emulate it
Colorism is born from classism, not from white people.
This was enlightening. Thank you Kyle and Jourdain for this interesting and unique look into the history of cinema.
As an aside, I am of the opinion that anyone - regardless of race, gender, sexuality, etc - should be allowed to talk about any subject, so long as they remain somewhat self-aware about who they are in comparison to what they're discussing. I did a presentation about racial tension differences between the UK and the US, as well as positive media representation of minorities in the form of superheroes, not to long ago, and while I admit to being nervous about it, in the end it turned out alright. I didn't pretend to be some sort of all-knowing being who can masterfully discuss anything, I was just myself; a straight White dorky guy who wanted to start a serious conversation, did a bit of research to make sure I wasn't speaking in ignorance, and did the presentation with light humour thrown in when appropriate for the sake of levity. Still, the nerves that Kyle shows here were what I was feeling the entire time; Bad With Groups + Doesn't Like Attention + No Confidence + Serious Topic = Me feeling terrified.
All that being said, while I believe that all voices should be heard on these serious topics, I do feel like it's most important to hear the voices of those who are directly connected to the topic, and as much as I like setting the stage up for the discussion to take place, I am more than willing to sneak off the proverbial stage to let the more relevant voices represent themselves.
Life to not-fascism.
This is a deep meditation for me on how I feel Finn was used in the New Star Wars and how I've been told "that's good enough."
And why I haven't stopped being angry about it.
This video was incredible.
Hi, Kyle;
I'm a white brazillian (well, I consider myself at least, although in countries further to the North I guess maybe I'd be considered mestizo or Latino) and this video, even though I'm not sure I agree with all points, helped me categorize in my own mind a popular character in Brazil's children literature. I had no idea about the mammie stereotype and neither have I seen much american cinema that came before the 70s, but seeing those clips and shows and your description of it, I saw that it fits almost like a glove with the character 'tia Nastácia' ('tia' being portuguese for aunt) from the series "Sítio do Picapau Amarelo" (which I'd freely translate to "The Yellow Woodpecker Fields"), a black female, free, but that has worked her whole life in the kitchen of a rural proprierty where a happy old lady with her grandsons live a lot of magical adventures - and all of her behavior matches mostly with that of the clichés shown in this movie, although acclimated to the specifities of Brazillian post-slavery, which is of course different from the States. The author, an important personality of early XXth century brazillian intellectual life, Monteiro Lobato, stuck out here because in a country that had a very different racism, being that it is tat our population is a lot more miscigenated etc, entered in discussions with a lot of other brazillians because, after living in America for a few years, he decided to defend segregation and other aspects of American racismand its imporation to Brazil. He even, if my memory do not deceive me, wrote letters defending the KKK and advocating for the creation of such an institution in Brazil, which is frankly terrifying. And although with each passing day his books are less read in elementary schools and we see less and less TV adaptations of his works, he is still important in the cultural life o f Brazil. I even started to ponder after watching the video: was tia Nastácia the brazillian offspring that happened because Brazil and America share their slavery past and tehrefore similar forms of racism, or was this even a kind of import he took the years he lived in the United States. I don't even know where could I begin to research such a topic!
In all these books and essays about the role of black characters in America cinema and other forms of culture and entertainment, I'm curious: do they also study the representation of black characters in Brazil, Cuba and other american countries that had similar processes of slavery? This cross country interchange would probably open even wider the picture, I'd guess.
Very interesting video, certainly one of your best in recent times. Best regards
I found a VHS copy of this film on top of a garbage can one night a few years ago. I had no idea what to expect when I first watched it, but it was an eye opening experience and now it's one of my favorite films. Weird luck
I think it's great you talked about this. That you didn't shy away from talking about something that's vitally important just because it's uncomfortable. I feel like the tendency of the vast majority of media creators to focus only on subjects that their audience is comfortable hearing about is a not insignificant part of the problem. People are growing up living in echo chambers, listening to only what they want to and not what they need to hear about, and when that happens enough, a lot is lost. This movie and this subject, this matters, this needs to be learned and discussed, and that learning and discussion doesn't happen when people shy away from talking about race or sex or sexuality because it might cause some people to click away or because it might not be advertiser friendly on youtube. It's great that BHH isn't limited by that tendency in modern media.
Jordain is so cool. Her additions make this video one of your bests.
OMG I did take a film class where we had to watch all of Birth of A Nation. I skipped the rest of those classes duing that screening.
Every now and then I feel tempted to watch it all the way through, but then I remember all the people who've said it's a bad idea.
My film history professor at Bard was smart to skip over the movie entirely. Said it was basically unwatchable and this wasn't a class about the history of racism. We learned about Griffith's technical innovations from watching his less offensive short films where he basically created every technique that gets attributed to Birth of a Nation.
I went to a class that only played 20 minutes of Birth of a Nation, HOWEVER we did watch all of The Jazz Singer though.
@Jimmi Pink: I love your videos!!
Drew Wharton The black and white version of a singer that painted his face or the one that had a Jewish man who wanted to be a singer while his father wanted him to be a rabbi?
Not to start a giant political debate, but what to Republicans have against art, humanities, and social sciences? If they successfully take money away from those institutions, what the hell are they going to use the money for?
Military, generally. Lots and lots of tanks and fighter-planes.
I think it has a LOT to do with the alignment of Republican “values” with Christianity and partriarchal power structures. Being people from that point of structure and benefitting from it, they see the order of their world as right and just. Questions about that structure, in art, in literature, in academic ideas like critical race theory, are an existential threat to the power that structure gives them. Hence, cutting funds to the institutions that ask those questions.
Give more of it to the 1% to pile up on the Cayman islands?
Also, they don’t think the guvment should be funding anything basically... expect when they’re inflating the budget... fuck, is there anything that party is good for? >:l
UltimateKyuubiFox and Wall Street, oils company, guns and alcohol and cigarettes that's what means something for them they still living in 50/60's and haven't ask themselves why that time ended like it did..!
That Bogle book should be updated to include the Magical Negro
As a non-American(in case you were wondering how all of this read to someone not immersed in American race, gender, and sexuality, but instead having an outsider's perspective) I have to say that this was a great video, with a lot of valid points. Kudos for diving deep into so many things that most people wouldn't even dare getting near. And, as a bonus, yet more reasons for me to loathe American politics.
I don't know what part of the world you are from but it might be worth your time to take a page from Kyle's book and explore your own countries history with marginalized populations. It is easy to judge another culture so you can pat yourself on the back and judge from a far. Introspection is much harder but it is a great deal more valuable to yourself and others.
I know my country's sordid history, and there are definitely some things in it to be ashamed of(which I am), but these are on a much smaller scale than those in the history of the United States.
And where are you from where your country hasnt committed any atrocities
@@andieallison6792 Nowhere, because my country has committed atrocities. Did I ever say that my country hasn't? No I didn't.
@@1987MartinT so then why the high and mighty attitude lol
I don't know if you can call Imitation of Life (1934) "the most progressive film on race yet" when Borderline (1930) with Paul Robeson is right there...
"This one's gonna be a little awkward..."
Good thing I started this on the toilet!
Love how you used Jay-Z's Story of OJ and Solange's Cranes in the Sky, both from albums that amazingly depict race from certain perspectives.
To realize I can see a copy of this on my library shelves now, and so many people who needed this movie, and movies like it, never had that opportunity.... I wish I could go back in time. But I cannot, and must accept that the best I can do, is to support more and more the opening of media to the viewpoints and ideas that have such an opportunity to inspire the forgotten, the purposefully put down.
Let me just say that as a Social Scientist it is SO refreshing to hear someone actual use the phrase "cultural appropriation" correctly. I know very little about lesbian cinema but I do know quite a bit of black history and if you are looking for a black lesbian icon I would direct your attention to Moms Mabley, arguably, the first Stand up Comedian (not the first woman or the first black person, the first stand up comedian period). There is some debate over whether she was really truly a lesbian but she certainly wasn't going out of her way to dispel the rumorers about her being one so I think that counts for alot. Anyway I'm happy to have been introduced to this woman and this movie, I am going to have to find a way to get a copy of it.
Firstly: Jodie and Kyle are my new OTP. Secondly, thank you so much for important content like this. Intersectionality is perhaps the most important element to consider in social justice work. We are all connected by our common human experience, regardless of skin color, gender, sexual orientation, economic status, etc. I think Frederick Douglass was the one who said it best: "All great reforms go together."
Kyle's reaction to Camille Paglia is more reserved and calm than mine...which makes it even more hilarious!
This is amazing! Thanks for highlighting a great film and love the collab!
God I am so so happy I found this channel - I used to watch the show back on Blip.tv and when that site went down I thought Kyle had just decided to cancel it. Over the years I watched so many of the movies analyzed and discussed on here and I feel like I genuinely learned a whole lot about film, art and culture in the process. Thank you.
Not even halfway through the video and I already love Jodie's contributions, thanks for having her on your channel Kyle so we can learn about her work and opinions
When I was little, I watched a black and white mexican movie based after a poem by Andres Eloy Blanco "Pintame Angelitos Negros" ("Paint black angels for me"). The original poem is about a black child who died, and how his mother wonders why churches don't have black cherubs in a country (Venezuela) where most people aren't even that white. Angelitos Negros, the movie, is about a white couple who happen to have a white child in blackface and how the mother refuses to care for the child because racism, but turns the woman's mammy servant is actually...*gasp* her real mother, who hid her identity because of...some reason. The dad was played by Pedro Infante in a particularly hammy performance.
I love, love, love this video. Every time I rewatch it, it hits me harder than before. Thank you Kyle and Jourdain for making this.
Cool! Great as always, Kyle, and Jourdain, glad to meet you!
Kyle, I can always count on your vids to make me think about things in a new way. Thanks for posting this.
Absolutely fantastic work. Probably one of the best discussions on this topic I've seen. Shame i can't quote your work for my diverse voices in literature unit, because you explained a lot of high-complex ideas very well. Keep up the good work.
Loved this video essay. Also doubly loved the reporter who said "This is Netherlands; you have to answer questions".
As a non-US citizen, this video really helped my understand the situation. I had a very hard time understanding the social and psychological aspect of that.
So thanks for that.
As a white non american who was introduced to american “old south” culture by readig and watching Gone with the wind, this video stirred up all kinds of feelings in me. I honestly started crying when you talked about her because I loved Mammy to death as a character, but learning that the concept of a “mammy” and its portrail in films was just white supremacist bs was a hard thing to swallow.
Thank you and your lovely gf for taking the time to educate
I took my mother to a Robert Mapplethorpe exhibition because nobody else could give me a lift to the gallery that afternoon, suck it, Peter Hoekestra.
I just finished watching your video and as many have already said, thank you. I understand why the hesitancy in speaking on the subject but the beauty of it all is that you did. You were willing to go outside of your comfort zone and you have a great and knowledgeable person there with you whom input that I can tell you value. You and Jourdain make a great team. I always find your videos enlightening and will gladly support Jourdain’s project as I have yours. I had heard of this movie years ago but to be honest had no idea of subject matter. This film covered so many topic and I will be viewing it again.
Keep up the great work and keep opening our eyes to new subjects and/or providing deeper perspectives to already familiar ones.
This was just so amazing to watch. Thank you SO MUCH. Please make yourself uncomfortable more often by picking up challenging topics. You rock!
This was really eye-opening, as I'm a man of Chinese descent. And I thought we don't get enough representation in Hollywood, and I see why. Boy oh boy, what a dirty rabbit hole it really is.
Your reviews are like the finest chocolate souffle following the perfect pasta and red sauce with an intense, velvety Merlot- they are a balanced, thoroughly beautiful experience that is created out of a deep understanding of history and love for one's art. I like that you are not afraid to discuss the uncomfortable, the dark, the repugnant (Taxidermy, not this) through an academic lens. I love that I feel like I get homework nearly very review because I always find a book that I haven't read or film I haven't watched. so thank you!
This was fantastic, thank you so much!
I always learn so much on this channel.
Jourdain, Kyle, thanks for this. You're both amazing.
Whenever I see that you've uploaded a new video I get excited. I always learn something from your videos and they help me have great conversations with my film-major brother.
This time I get the additional bonus of a BRILLIANT breakdown of American culture and African-American cinema. I'm in the final stages of becoming a high school History teacher in California and I hope I get the opportunity to present (in a edited form for... obvious reasons) this video to my future students.
It's comforting to know that I'm not alone in finding minstrels terrifying. *shudders* And people think clowns are scary...
Absolutely fantastic. I'm going to have to watch this film now. And I'm so glad Jourdain was in the video too.
Did definitely head over to Jourdain's sites and read some articles. Thank you for letting me know this movie exists
Kyle, Jourdain-- holy shit. This is incredible work. Thank you. If this is the kind of work you want to make, please please keep it up.
hay thank you guys so much for this vid, i cant wait to see the good movies you listed
Kyle uploads new video. Day: made. As always.
Your work makes me think about a lot of things. things that I never knew existed for that I thank you.
My man! As a black, straight married man, I thank you for shining a light on this subject, community and person. Very well told from your perspective and informative to me. I appreciate you sir. Good work. I was not aware of her or her film. Thanks
I'd like to take a moment to tell you that I really appreciated this video, it is probably the best video essay I've seen and goes into the perfect detail and has an amazing message to back it up, and it is made beautifully, and the parts with your girlfriend just sent the quality and sincerely to the moon, 100% a+ video
This is already one of my favorite videos of yours. I already loved it before your girlfriend showed up, but she elevated it to a level I did not see coming by offering her perspective. You two make a great team.
Again, another amazing video highlighting a piece of media I wouldn't have otherwise known about. The use of the Story of OJ and Cranes in the Sky were good touches. They're such smooth songs to listen to, but also thematically relevant
Watched this film at my ethnic studies class a few years ago. Such an awesome movie, and the final excerpt broke my heart. Really glad that you and Jourdain gave it a look
God this video was needed, maybe even more than the movie itself. Thank you, Kyle. Just, really thank you.
Awsamazing Eden Huh, by sheer coincidence, I rewatched Dear White People (show and movie) the day before this dropped. This is a good weekend.
Tate Hildyard It is indeed. Such a good show. I try to convince people to watch it, but they're alienated by the title.
Just tell them not to watch the trailer or read the comments/reviews. It actually is a lot more nuanced than the trailer makes it look. I'm pumped for season 2.
Why such snap judgements from people!? Seriously. Give the thing a go before you deem it unworthy. I enjoyed Dear White People, the film so very much. It was utter perfection. Will definitely even get to the show soon. Another show I love that is fantastic is Craxy Ex Girlfriend and it has suffered from the same problem of dismissal for the title alone. Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
Tate Hildyard It is getting a season two? Awesome!
I'm really liking this channel. Keep the videos coming.
I'm surprised you didn't mention blacksploitation movies.
Those are fairly awesome compared to what came before...
Closing with Jodie talking about how much the movie means to her and the process of her trying to find it was so sincerely moving, and totally appropriate.
This is way off topic but...I'm Canadian and the section on the SOB senator say this movie is terrible and shouldn't have been funded reminded me of all things David Cronenberg. His first, Shivers, film was funded by the Film Board of Canada and it too was accused of being pornographic (if you've seen the movie that isn't an unfair accusation) and evil and why was it funded. The interesting thing is the Film Board isn't giving money away its a partner/producer on the film and is entitled to a share of profits. Shivers was one of the first movies to pay back its loan and more. So you had a situation were Members of Parliament were complaining about a movie that was "filling" the nation's coffers.
All the racism in film history....Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. NOOOOOPE! I'm glad that I feel uncomfortable. Lord have mercy.
Also: Jourdain is goals.
Thanks for making this.
Oh this video takes me back to my first two years of film school. Where I watched all of Birth of a Nation, Watermelon Woman and Imitation of LIfe. Always a good time watching your videos and absolutely necessary regardless of who is saying it as long as they do their research and have someone from the marginalized community check it up. I feel like Black Cinema is having their moment right now with Moonlight, Selma, Black Panther, and I am sure more to come.
I love this! Well done. And thanks.
Whoa, a 32 minute video? Nice Kyle.
And as uncomfortable as it must have been to delve into the history of it all, I think it was all worth it.
Oh and trashing an incompetent, dumb and bigoted republican politician for good measure
you did an amazing job on this movie, I just subscribed
Awesome work. It occurred to me watching how really unfamiliar I was with black cinema. Using this video to get started and just bought a copy of this. Thanks for doing such great work, both of you.
I'm grateful my Film school skimmed through Birth of a Nation
You are absolutely fantastic. Keep doing what you're doing
Had never seen one of your reviews before and really liked this one. Good job.
Glad I could find your content again.
This film was taught to my Intro to Film class at University a few years ago. Glad to see it getting more recognition!
Ah, David Rakoff! Rest in peace
Thank you for the Hollywood Shuffle clip. I saw that once in Uni and I've been looking for it ever since.
I HOPE ALL HIS KIDS SAW IT. AND LOVED IT.
The film industry is a mayonnaise phallocracy.
3:22-3:27 might be the best 5 seconds of any of Kyle's video.
Someone needs to turn it into a gif
I am so glad I looked up this movie for some commentary because I got to learn more about what went into this film that made it great.
now that was a great review.
i have to say that i enjoyed how Jourdain egged you and if this is the new format then i approve.
Kyle Kallgren, thank you for takeing a dificult subject and making it "bite sized" for mass consumption.
Jourdain Searles, thank you for making it more real by sharing your story.
Phenomenal video, absolutely great. Really enjoyed this, liked the video. 👍🏾
wow, I stumbled across your channel and I'm so glad I did. I love film analysis videos, but recently its been really hard for me to find videos like yours. A lot of younger often male and white critics say some very upsetting and problematic things without any remorse or realization. You've earned a sub from me!
Good video, Kyle.
Returning to this video after THE WATERMELON WOMAN was added to the National Film Registry feels….well I have a lot of feelings, but they are mostly positive.
"Woman aren't my specialty" "Of course not, look at you" SAVAGE, someone get that man to Burn Unit, STAT!