I posted this in another tribe I moderate and forgot to do the same here last week,

Last night I went to a screening at OutFest the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. I saw a film called "The Twelve Discples of Nelson Mandela". It's a wonderful film. The director said afterwards it will be showing on POV on PBS this september. If you get a chance to check it out I suggest you do. It was a documentary about these twelve young men who left South Africa to help fight apartheid. It touches on their political and personal lives. Exploring mainly the life of Pule (Lee) as told by his son (stepson) Thomas Allen Harris.

THE TWELVE DISCIPLES OF NELSON MANDELA, film based on the story of the first wave of South African exiles who left Bloemfontein in 1960 to keep the anti-apartheid movement alive from East Africa, Europe, America and Cuba. In their heroic journey, this group of twelve -- and the thousands of young South African freedom fighters that would follow them - helped to create a global seismic shift that ultimately toppled the apartheid system in South Africa. One of the Disciples, Pule Benjamin Leinaeng, was the filmmaker's late father.

Harris pays tribute to Benjamin Pule Leinaeng, the stepfather who raised him, by traveling to South Africa and excavating the late Leinaeng¹s life as a political activist [in] the ANC and whose real-life exploits play like a James Bond film. Harris¹ trademark elegant visual style (owing much to both high-end fashion magazines and experimental film and photography) is put into the service of dramatic re-creations that flesh out documentary commentary from old friends and political allies, while family photos and home video become potent artifacts in the transformation of grief into celebration.‹ LA Weekly

..A fascinating hybrid..., New York Magazine

Harris' historical re-enactments are impressively colorful and detailed. New York Press

..represents a strong calling card for U.S.-born helmer Thomas Allen Harris..., Variety

- 2005 Toronto International Film Festival - World Premiere

-- 2005 MACUFE Festival, Bloemfontein - African Premiere

-2006 Pan African Film Festival - Best Documentary

- 2006 Santa Cruz Film Festival - Best Documentary

- 2006 Imagenation Festival - Revolution Award

- 2006 Bermuda International Film Festival - Honorable Mention as Audience Favorite

- 2006 Independent Spirit Award Nomination - Truer Than Fiction Category


There are sample clips at the website

www.chimpanzeeproductions.org/films.html
Today I saw "Rag Tag" and "Dirty Laundry" at OUTFEST....

Rag Tag is the story of two friends who get seperated when one is taken away from his mother. They vow to reconnect. It takes ten years and they eventually do. There is alot of background and subtext to this movie....it's filmed in London and in Nigeria....wonderful cast, story, and such a well made film....please please please keep an eye out for it...


Dirty Laundry was the more "Hollywood" of the films. It's made by Maurice Jamal the same guy who did "Ski Trip" (which is not one of my favorite movies). But that can't be said about this one. The casts includes Rockmond Dunbar, Loretta Devine, Jennifer Lewis, Terry Vaughn, Maurice Jamal, and Sommore....I was hoping this wouldn't be another chitlin circuit Tyler Perry like movie...and it wasn't. The characters on the surface can seem like caricatures but there is a real story here and some great acting.....I highly suggest you see it. It is the banner movie for the Human Rights Commission so there will be screenings around the country before it hits theatres....but when you have a chance go see it...

Here are the websites for these two movies...the one for "Rag Tag" is still under construction...

www.ragtagmovie.com/

www.dirtylaundrythemovie.com/new/

the "Dirty Laundry" site has dates for sneak previews...