Black Shack Alley

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Palcy has distinguished herself for being the first black woman to direct a Hollywood movie, A Dry White Season. I thought that was a decent but unremarkable drama. This earlier work is a bit better. The storyline is somewhat been-there-done-that, and the mise en scene is nothing special, but there is an authentic quality to it. In some ways it was reminiscent of Satyajit Ray. The film's greatest asset is the strong characterization: Jose and his grandmother are people who grow on you quickly.

A very beautiful film.

746

#797