Cane River

United States | 1982/2020 | Horace B. Jenkins

Newly rediscovered and fully restored, this nearly lost African American indie drama (made between Charles Burnett’s Killer of Sheep and Spike Lee’s She’s Gotta Have It) was the only fictional feature written and directed by an Emmy-winning, black documentary filmmaker who died (at age 42) shortly after finishing it. A regional production set and shot in Louisiana (and fully financed by wealthy black businessmen in that state) but never theatrically released until this year, this laid-back, lyrical film focuses on the love affair between a Creole man and a black woman. Though both of them hail from the same rural LA parish where the film takes place, and both are descendants of slaves, the two lovers remain star-crossed by historical disparities of wealth, caste, religion, and skin color. (It’s one of the rare movies to tackle the topic of colorism, or intraracial prejudice). Has a 100% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Cleveland revival premiere. 90 min.

Cane River, a Cinematheque streaming exclusive, can be watched online from 5/22 thru 6/11 via the link below. Doing so supports the Cinematheque. 

https://caneriver.vhx.tv/checkout/cleveland-cinematheque-presents-cane-river/purchase