In a rebellious odyssey against systemic injustice, a charismatic outsider defies societal norms, navigating a gritty world of revolution, passion, and empowerment in this influential 1971 cinematic milestone.
In the first class, we will delve into the early history of Black horror, focusing on its origins in early 20th-century cinema and its progression through the decades. We will analyze the portrayal of Black characters in horror films, often rooted in stereotypes, and how Black filmmakers and writers began reclaiming the genre. Key works like Son of Ingagi (1940), Blacula (1972), and Ganja & Hess (1973) will be examined to understand the sociopolitical context and the resistance these films represented against dominant narratives.
Black Horror 101: Origins and Early Representations (1900s–1970s)
October 9th @ 7:00 pm
SIFF Film Center/Online
$21.50
Black Horror 102: Contemporary Fear and Its Cultural Impact (1980s–Present)
October 16th @ 7:00 pm
SIFF Film Center/Online
$21.50
The second class of Reel Black: A Horror Primer will explore the resurgence and redefinition of Black horror in the 20th century. We will study the rise of influential filmmakers like Jordan Peele, whose Get Out (2017) and Us (2019) have brought Black horror to the forefront of popular culture. The class will also discuss the role of Black horror in addressing contemporary issues such as systemic racism, identity, and trauma. Films like Candyman (1992 & 2021) and His House (2020) will be highlighted to illustrate how Black horror continues to challenge and expand the genre's boundaries.
“Perfect Blue's success lies in the twisted, self-referential storyline that intercuts reality with fantasy so fluidly that viewers inevitably take on Mima's shattered point of view, unable to distinguish the truth until the stunning conclusion.” – Tasha Robinson, Sci-Fi Weekly
Join instructor Isabella Price as we deep dive into Satoshi Kon’s cult classic debut, Perfect Blue.
This Film Talk is associated with a screening of Perfect Blue on November 4, 2024 at SIFF Uptown.
“What keeps the picture percolating is the stream of hallucinatory images, both nightmarish and oddly alluring, that Kon conjures.” – John Hartl, Seattle Times
The second week of this series takes a closer look at Paprika, the film that Kon intended to be his second feature that became his fourth and final masterpiece before his untimely death in 2010.
This Film Talk is associated with a screening of Paprika on November 11, 2024 at SIFF Uptown.
“Disguises itself as a romance, but it's really a loving homage to Japanese history, as well as a comment on the nature of filmmaking and films.” – Daphne Gordon, Toronto Star
In week three, we investigate Kon’s love letter to Japanese filmmaking, Millennium Actress.
This Film Talk is associated with a screening of Millennium Actress on November 18, 2024 at SIFF Uptown.
“Tokyo Godfathers is the kind of old-fashioned, all-ages entertainment Hollywood used to churn out in live-action form before the era of niche marketing, when a good story sold a film.” – Marrit Ingman, Austin Chronicle
In our final week, we explore Kon’s third feature film, Tokyo Godfathers, which follows the exploits of a trio of unlikely friends facing homelessness (a teenage runaway, a former drag queen, and an alcoholic) as they spend Christmas Eve looking for the parents of an infant they discover in the trash.
This Film Talk is associated with a screening of Tokyo Godfathers on November 25, 2024.
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