Double Lens: Harlem DocFest: TONI MORRISON: THE PIECES I AM, BLUE NOTE, MILES DAVIS
Sunday, November 17, 2019
TONI MORRISON: THE PIECES I AM
1pm Screening
Director: Timothy Greenfield-Sanders Year: 2019 Time: 119min
Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am offers an artful and intimate meditation on the life and works of the legendary storyteller and Nobel prize-winner. From her childhood in the steel town of Lorain, Ohio to ‘70s-era book tours with Muhammad Ali, from the front lines with Angela Davis to her own riverfront writing room, Toni Morrison leads an assembly of her peers, critics and colleagues on an exploration of race, America, history and the human condition as seen through the prism of her own literature. Inspired to write because no one took a “little black girl” seriously, Morrison reflects on her lifelong deconstruction of the master narrative. Woven together with a rich collection of art, history, literature and personality, the film includes discussions about her many critically acclaimed works, including novels “The Bluest Eye,” “Sula” and “Song of Solomon,” her role as an editor of iconic African-American literature and her time teaching at Princeton University.
Q&A with Sandra Guzman and other guests following the screening
AT Documentary Forum Shepard Hall rm 291 on the City College Campus. 259 Convent Avenue @ W. 140th Street.
(#1 train to W. 137 St. or A/D trains to W. 145th St.)
Blue Note Records: Beyond the Notes explores the unique vision behind the iconic jazz record label. Through rare archival footage, current recording sessions and conversations with Blue Note artists, the film reveals a powerful mission and illuminates the vital connections between jazz and hip hop.
Q&A with special guests from the film to follow
7 PM MILES DAVIS: BIRTH OF THE COOL by Stanley Nelson
At Documentary Forum
Shepard Hall rm 291 on the City College Campus. 259 Convent Avenue @ W. 140th Street.
(#1 train to W. 137 St. or A/D trains to W. 145th St.)
Miles Davis: Horn player, bandleader, innovator. Miles was a singular force of nature, the very embodiment of cool. The central theme of Miles Davis’ life, and of this film is Davis’ restless determination to break boundaries and live life on his own terms. This documentary feature explores archival photos and home movies shot by Miles and his colleagues, his manuscripts and Miles’ original paintings, to explore the man behind the music. Featuring interviews with some of the most well-known musicians on the planet, including Jimmy Cobb, Lee Konitz, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter, Carlos Santana, The Roots, and Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers; the film explores why Miles continues to be a relevant voice in today’s world.
Free reception @ 6PM and screening of the film with an introduction by Director Stanley Nelson