Residue

One of the best films on blacks in USA by a black director--his debut. Good visuals. Restrained and very magnetic acting by non-professionals. The film is about the gradual "gentrification" of Q street in Washington DC, not very far from the White House. (I have been a frequent visitor to the J and K street areas of the same city where the black population is in minority.) Q street was considered a black majority area. Land developers try to evict the black population so that the land/properties can be inhabited by white folks. The film rarely shows the whites, but when it shows their actions it is searing for the viewer. The whites take out their pet dogs for a walk and allow their pets to defecate on lawns of homes owned by blacks and do not clean up the mess even when confronted by home owners and instead yell profanities at the blacks from a safe distance. The final words are from a white couple standing on the terrace of a high rise residential complex who now feel safe that the black community is a lot less in number than before. The "Residue" of the title refers to the blacks who refuse to move out of Q street. An important film of 2020.

And that sht was long at. so here's a short version:

most movies suck they have boring perspectives they have a frame of reference that's alien to me

but this film very well paced beautifully shot the characters felt real and the story was way too real I cried a lot the ending exactly the right move and it hit hard

good stuff

This film is so powerful. The way it's shot, the flash backs, the way the director played with light and perspective. It really is great. I had to sit and reflect after watching. This film sticks with you.

"Residue" is the most experimental and topical film that I saw in Venice, it features unconventional filmmaking and transports the viewer into an issue that hasn't yet been explored cinematically. Speaking with the director, this was extremely low budget and very spontaneous which is one of my biggest praises. The film has an intoxicating and transcending visual style that helps to build the story up in innovative ways. A bit unfocused and spends time at moments that didn't interest me at all, but one of the Venice films I want to rewatch as soon as possible.

Residue is a beautiful and meaningful film filled with deep character emotion, powerful images, and nostalgic memories. The film's characters are believable.

Although the movie is filmed in Washington, DC, this movie does NOT portray the downtown sections of the city (i.e. The White House, The Monument, The Capitol), but rather the sections of the city that show how black folks live and how they cope with gentrification...and Jay (Obina Nwachukwu) says it best: "these white folks are gonna paint over the city like we never existed!"

From the music (go-go), to the slang (he moved "out Merr-lin"), to the attitude of the characters...Gerima has done a great job in capturing the true black culture of DC. This film is necessary! #DCStillOurs #DontMuteDC