Synopsis
Marlon Riggs, with assistance from other gay Black men, especially poet Essex Hemphill, celebrates Black men loving Black men as a revolutionary act. The film intercuts footage of Hemphill reciting his poetry, Riggs telling the story of his growing up, scenes of men in social intercourse and dance, and various comic riffs, including a visit to the "Institute of Snap!thology," where men take lessons in how to snap their fingers: the sling snap, the point snap, the diva snap.
Key facts
Cast
Marlon Riggs, Essex Hemphill, Brian Freeman, Michael Bell, Willi Ninja, Kerrigan Black, Blackberri, Djola Bernard Branner
Original language
English
First release
March 16, 1990 (United States)
Crew
Screenplay
Alan Miller, Chris Harris, Donald Woods, Essex Hemphill, Joseph Beam, Marlon Riggs, Reginald Jackson, Steve Langley
Producer
Marlon Riggs
Cinematography
Marlon Riggs, Vivian Kleiman
Editing
Marlon Riggs
Music
Alex Langford, Marlon Riggs, Steve Langley
Trailer
Stills
Reviews
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Festival History
Releases & classifications
| Theatrical | United States | March 16, 1990 |
| Theatrical | United States | June 1, 1990 |
| Theatrical | United States | November 6, 1990 |
| Television | United States | July 16, 1991 |
| Theatrical | Germany | February 15, 2016 |
Full credits
| Director | Marlon Riggs |
| Cast | Marlon Riggs (Self), Essex Hemphill (Self - Poetry Performance), Brian Freeman (Self), Michael Bell (Self), Willi Ninja (Self), Kerrigan Black (Self), Blackberri (Self), Djola Bernard Branner (Self), Eddie Murphy (Self (archive footage)) |
| Screenplay | Alan Miller, Chris Harris, Donald Woods, Essex Hemphill, Joseph Beam, Marlon Riggs, Reginald Jackson, Steve Langley |
| Producer | Marlon Riggs |
| Cinematography | Marlon Riggs, Vivian Kleiman |
| Editing | Marlon Riggs |
| Music | Alex Langford, Marlon Riggs, Steve Langley |
Additional data: TMDB.
Source: Cinémathèque québécoise, linked catalogue data (CC BY 4.0)
