I Am Not Your Negro (2016)

Going into this film I wasn't sure what to expect, however having watched it I am thoroughly impressed by the message of the film but less so by the actual film making. 'I am Not Your Negro' is less of a documentary and more of an open letter (it's actually based on the unfinished manuscript "Remember This House") from novelist and playwright James Baldwin. In it he speaks about his relationship with Malcolm X, Martin Luther King jr., and his frustration with the racism that still exists in American culture to this day. The film features snippets of interviews as well as images and general B-roll footage that for me didn't succeed in amplifying the strong themes of the film. I think that it would've been more interesting for actors to recreate some of the real life events rather than pairing occasionally random clips with narration. I understand the choice to use archive footage to portray the fact that all of the events talked about really happened though.

On the whole I would reccomend this film to anyone as it is a truly view-changing film. I feel like it gave me a better understanding of not just the issues faced by black people but by most minority groups. Some of the film making could've been more interesting, however that would not stop me from recommending. So, emotionally impactful; perspective changing; slightly ineffective film making. 4/5 would recommend.