This week has been a busy week in more ways than one. I’m sure even just with the holidays and you’ve experienced the same thing. Next week should get me back on my regular blog schedule…whatever that is. In the meantime, I did not want to risk getting inconsistent with our movie dates!
This week our focus is a little less intense, …but still intense if that makes sense. The film ‘Claudine’ was released in 1974. Though this film was released during the “blaxploitation era”, it is one of the few that does not fall into the blaxploitation category. Directed by John Berry, this was his first film success after suffering the effects of the Hollywood blacklist (he was accused of being a communist). The last film he would direct would be ‘Boesman and Lena’ with Angela Bassett and Danny Glover. Starring a very young Diahann Carroll, James Earl Jones, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs (Cooley High) and even a brief cameo by Roxy Roker (Helen Willis from the Jefferson’s and Mama to Lenny Kravitz). The writers were not black but the message(s) is timeless and important. It speaks to many of the issues that we are sill affected by now: Economic challenges, raising children, single parenthood, single parenthood and dating, single parenthood + relationships + financial challenges + blended families (or not blended families), relationships, manhood, stereotypes, labels, politics, vulnerability, commitment, baggage, acceptance, humility, teamwork, womanhood, womanhood vs. mommyhood, the system, adolescence and on top of all that, it’s a Love Story. A real life-no fairy tale included-LOVE STORY. And a beautiful one at that. It’s funny, painful, happy, sad you name it.
Without further a due: Claudine is a single mother of six in Harlem that falls in love with “Roop” (Rupert) a garbage collector. As their relationship develops quickly, the fact that marrying Claudine would cause her to lose her government assistance becomes an issue. As if that weren’t enough, Rupert is faced with his own issues from a previous relationship in addition to challenges with Claudines oldest son, one of the six that is especially leery of her relationship with Rupert, whom they are certain will be just like all the rest. In combination with all of those things, this film has some great cinematography and is beautiful to watch. I will say it does have a rather abrupt ending, but we can chat about that too.
I think you’ll love it, but as always the roundtable is always open and I welcome your feedback. I beg you to watch this film (hell, I beg you to watch them all, hehe!). Did I mention THE SOUNDTRACK written by the one and only CURTIS MAYFIELD and performed by Glady’s Knight and the Pips?????? I need say no more…….please watch and enjoy.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L__VjF7JSC0]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTd9qE1Q7hc]
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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMl9WEIi4Ek]
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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KhpJBCjm8M]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUlFWbsh_m4][youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fit44QKgbw]
–Sendin you SUNday vibes from Studio5-
-h.kai
