A couple of months ago, I took the time to review Panther, one of my favorite black films. The film is basically a dramatization of the formation of the Black Panther Party of Self-Defense and it shows the trials and tribulations that the organization had to go through in the early 1960's. So, when I learned that Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song was a somewhat similar movie, I decided to watch it with a open mind and see what it had to offer. After doing so, I'm glad to say that the movie impressed me greatly, even though some of the scenes were somewhat graphic.
The premise of the movie revolves around a black man named Sweetback as he tries to avoid the police, after he beat down some officers after they attacked another black man. As the movie continues, you see all the things that Sweetback has to go through in order to avoid being caught, like switching clothes with a sympathetic white man or having sex with a female member of the Hells Angels. However, I think the thing people will like the most about this movie is the ending.
In the past, most African Americans were protrayed in a negative light and were usually shown being either captured or killed by the police in the end of movies. However, that isn't the case with this black film. Although Sweetback is indeed forced to run for his life, and is even forced out of the country, he doesn't die. Back in the 1970's, which was when this movie came out, that was very uncommon for black people, who either die for suspense or the amusement of others. I can't quite explain it, but I found that quite satisfying and I wished that there were more movies like that during that particular era.
In conclusion, I really like Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song and I would recommend it to anyone who would like to see a very interesting movie. The only thing I have to say though is that should avoid watching it in the presence of viewers under the age of 13.
No comments:
Post a Comment