October is the month for celebrating Black History and achievements made by Black people in cinema and other industries. In honour of this, here's a list of epic movies – ranging from horror to heart-warming – produced by directors and writers who are part of the Black community!
Nope
A recently released movie by the notable Jordan Peele, Nope explores themes of nature, animal abuse and exploitation in Hollywood. Peele uses the nineties aesthetic as inspiration for specific aspects of the film, which successfully creates a crossover into different time periods and worlds. The movie depicts the beautiful as well as the bizarre, such as majestic horses on a horse ranch as well as a chimpanzee causing a riot.
Nope is beautifully shot, its cinematography capturing the beauty of the animal kingdom, as well as the natural world. Peele’s portrayal of the uncanny and the other delivers a perfect blend of sci-fi, horror, and thriller. There are plenty of unexpected and thought-provoking scenes which are guaranteed to linger long after the film ends.
Moonlight
Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight is an emotional tale of a young Black man, Chiron, living in the drug central of Miami. The story follows the protagonist as he struggles with his sexual identity, his deprived background, and his futile resistance against gangs and drugs. The film is split into three stages of life: childhood, adolescence and adulthood, and delves into core issues regarding race and identity crises.
It expands on questions revolving around the struggles of Black teenagers, demonstrating their struggles with peer pressure, poverty and self-worth. The movie also has its fair share of violent scenes, which adds to the grit and realism of the plot. If you’re in the mood for a tear-jerker, this is the perfect movie for you. Malcolm X
This 1992 classic biography from Spike Lee on the iconic activist Malcolm X — later known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz — shows his journey from a young man navigating through a difficult life, to joining the Nation of Islam, and later years of humanitarian activism. The film initially illustrates his tumultuous life, childhood instability and his incarceration.
During his time in prison, he meets a member of the NOI, a group rebelling against white society and prejudice. After his time preaching, Malcom X became a prominent figure of black society, and his eloquence became famous among black and Muslim groups. He later left the Nation of Islam after contradicting views, and embarked on a pilgrimage to Mecca, where the diversity of his religion caused his opinions to reform.
These are all must-watches for those interested in history and black activism – but also, they are true cinematic masterpieces.
Edited by: Jasmine Pegg
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