Close Harmony 1981. USA. Directed by Nigel Noble. After attending a stirring joint performance by the student
chorus of Brooklyn Friends School and members of the Council Center for Senior Citizens in Flatbush, Brooklyn,
Noble was inspired to tell the story of their annual
collaboration. Going behind the scenes as the two choral groups prepare for their performance, Noble’s directorial debut demonstrates music’s ability to bridge divides
and serve as common ground for different generations. 30 min.
Paul Robeson: Tribute to an Artist (pictured) 1979. USA. Directed by Saul J. Turell. Narrated by Sidney Poitier. Using extensive archival footage, this biography recounts the rise and fall of Robeson’s career. An outspoken civil rights pioneer, Robeson broke through racial barriers on screen and stage with his noted performances as Othello and the Emperor Jones, as well as his concert tours in the U.S. and Europe. After WWII, his pro-Soviet views led to his
blacklisting in America, and the State Department revoked
his passport, ostensibly ending his career. Turell crafted this filmic tribute shortly after Robeson’s death, in 1976,
in an effort to restore the reputation of a brilliant
performer maligned by politics. 30 min.
New York City, NY; NYC