I approached this film with high hopes that got ground down within the first 30 minutes. The other review here gives you a good idea of what this movie is about, so I won't go into any of that. I understand why the other reviewer liked this movie, but for me, it fails for the same reasons.
I thought the premise of this movie promised more than it delivered. I think what discouraged me most was its style. The filmmaker narrates in a breathy voice heavy with MEANING. The home movies included are just what you would expect, shots of kids, aunts, friends, etcetera, mugging for the camera. The problem for me was that all the rest of the movie seemed to be made up of the same kind of footage--amateur, herky-jerky hand-held home movies.
I found it tiresome and not very interesting. However, this movie might well resonate with Black Americans, depending upon how interested they are in the subject.
5-14-2017 edit: RESPONSE TO Response to Maybe Worthwhile: I took your point and changed the title of my review from "Maybe Worthwhile for American Blacks--Maybe" to "For me, more about style than substance." You are correct that I am white. I'm also gay, but I'm not sure I could say "straight people will never understand gay people" as you have said in respect to Whites' inability to understand Blacks. It's too broad a statement. What I would say, however, is that straight people will never understand the pain of exclusion, derision, and hatred that gay people experience.
You were right to call me out on my review title; it was presumptuous, and I apologize. I haven't changed my opinion about the movie though. There was no disclaimer on the movie saying it was only for Black people. If there had been, I wouldn't have watched it. :)
I thought the premise of this movie promised more than it delivered. I think what discouraged me most was its style. The filmmaker narrates in a breathy voice heavy with MEANING. The home movies included are just what you would expect, shots of kids, aunts, friends, etcetera, mugging for the camera. The problem for me was that all the rest of the movie seemed to be made up of the same kind of footage--amateur, herky-jerky hand-held home movies.
I found it tiresome and not very interesting. However, this movie might well resonate with Black Americans, depending upon how interested they are in the subject.
5-14-2017 edit: RESPONSE TO Response to Maybe Worthwhile: I took your point and changed the title of my review from "Maybe Worthwhile for American Blacks--Maybe" to "For me, more about style than substance." You are correct that I am white. I'm also gay, but I'm not sure I could say "straight people will never understand gay people" as you have said in respect to Whites' inability to understand Blacks. It's too broad a statement. What I would say, however, is that straight people will never understand the pain of exclusion, derision, and hatred that gay people experience.
You were right to call me out on my review title; it was presumptuous, and I apologize. I haven't changed my opinion about the movie though. There was no disclaimer on the movie saying it was only for Black people. If there had been, I wouldn't have watched it. :)