Film Series

A Time for Burning: Cinema of the Civil Rights Movement

 
 
Aug 13—Aug 28, 2013
 
   
 
 
 
 
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"It’s an epic show, a total immersion, and for some might even be an awakening.”—J. Hoberman, ArtInfo

"One of the most important and unpredictably comprehensive retrospectives of the year." Steve Dollar, The Wall Street Journal

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, BAMcinématek presents 40 films documenting the period of the civil rights movement leading up to the March and the waves of legislation that passed in the years following it. Culled from 28 private film and television archives, collectors, studios and public libraries, these films create a sweeping portrait of what's often called the heroic era of the civil rights movement in documentary, Hollywood and independent film.


 
Related Content
Articles
A Time for Burning in the news
ArtInfo
The Brooklyn Paper
 
March on Washington book giveaway
Enter to win a copy of William P. Jones’ book The March on Washington, courtesy of W.W. Norton and Company.


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PAST EVENTS
Film
King: A Filmed Record...Montgomery to Memphis
 

This film mixes archival footage with readings by Harry Belafonte, Ruby Dee, and more.

Tue, Aug 13, 2013
 
 
Film
Native Land
 

A searing look at racism by leftist filmmaker Leo Hurwitz and avant gardist Paul Strand.

Wed, Aug 14, 2013
 
 
Film
Portrait of Jason
 

One of the simplest and most radical documentaries ever made.

Aug 15—Aug 16, 2013
 
 
Film
The Streets of Greenwood + Lay My Burden Down
 

Two iconic documentaries by Jack Willis, about voting rights in the South. 

Thu, Aug 15, 2013
 
 
Film
Crisis + The Children Were Watching
 

These two documentaries by Robert Drew capture the spirit of a tumultuous era.

Fri, Aug 16, 2013
 
 
Film
To Kill a Mockingbird
 

The classic screen adaptation of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.

Sun, Aug 18, 2013
 
 
Film
The Learning Tree
 

Gordon Parks’ debut is the first Hollywood film directed by an African-American.

Sun, Aug 18, 2013
 
 
Film
Baldwin's Nigger + My Childhood Part 2: James Baldwin's Harlem
 

A program of two shorts featuring literary titan James Baldwin.

Mon, Aug 19, 2013
 
 
Film
I Heard It Through the Grapevine
 
A personal essay film written by James Baldwin, 20 years after the civil rights struggle.
Mon, Aug 19, 2013
 
 
Film
All My Babies + Palmour Street
 

A rare look at the living conditions, both good and bad, in the rural segregated South.

Tue, Aug 20, 2013
 
 
Film
The Intruder + Nine from Little Rock
 

William Shatner stars as an irredeemable bigot in this Roger Corman film.

Tue, Aug 20, 2013
 
 
Film
A Time for Burning
 

Scandal erupts when a Lutheran minister attempts a modest experiment at his church.

Wed, Aug 21, 2013
 
 
Film
Let the Church Say Amen!
 

Filmmaker St. Clair Bourne follows a young pastor trying to find a spiritual path.

Wed, Aug 21, 2013
 
 
Film
Madeline Anderson Shorts
 

Highlights of trailblazing documentarian Madeline Anderson’s incredible body of work. 

Thu, Aug 22, 2013
CURATOR'S CHOICE
 
 
Film
The Cry of Jazz + American Revolution 2
 

Two radical documentaries explore various aspects of racial unrest.

Thu, Aug 22, 2013
 
 
Film
Odds Against Tomorrow
 

Harry Belafonte stars in the first film noir to feature a black protagonist.

Fri, Aug 23, 2013
 
 
Film
Black Natchez + Shorts
 

An intense documentary about the growing rifts within the civil rights movement.

Fri, Aug 23, 2013
 
 
Film
Nothing But a Man
 

Abbey Lincoln stars in “one of the great American independent films” (Amy Taubin).

Sat, Aug 24, 2013
 
 
Film
Two Thousand Maniacs!
 

The godfather of gore exposes racial tensions in this unnerving film.

Sat, Aug 24, 2013
 
 
Film
A Raisin in the Sun
 

This adaptation of Lorraine Hansberry’s masterpiece stars Sidney Poitier and Ruby Dee.

Sun, Aug 25, 2013
 
 
Film
Still a Brother
 

William Greaves’ portrait of the revolution transforming black consciousness.

Tue, Aug 27, 2013
 
 
Film
The Best of Black Journal
 

Highlights from William Greaves’ Emmy-winning news program.

Tue, Aug 27, 2013
 
 
Film
March on Washington Program
 

This collection of documentaries commemorates the March on Washington’s 50th anniversary.

Wed, Aug 28, 2013