USA,
1997, 118 min
Shown in 1998
CREDITS
- dir
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Ernest Dickerson
- prod
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Nick Grillo
- scr
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Frank Military
- cam
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Rodney Charters
- editor
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Stephen Lovejoy
- cast
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Courtney B. Vance, Charles S. Dutton, Kadeem Hardison
- source
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Showtime, 1633 Broadway, New York, NY 10019. FAX: 212-708-1217
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COMMENTS
Ernest Dickerson and Courtney B. Vance in person.
OTHER
Being Black in 1950s America could never be considered easy, but it’s much harder when you land in jail, accused of murdering a white boy—and confess to the crime. Such is the serious predicament of 18-year-old Charles Jr. The situation quickly escalates to a matter of life-or-death urgency, and Charles’ uncle must step in to defend his nephew in a case that’s fraught with inconsistencies, yet seemingly undefendable. This middle-class Black family had seemed to be making significant inroads into white society—a goal set by Charles Sr., an austere father and respected police officer striving to become New York’s first Black sergeant—but now it’s engaged in a struggle for survival. Above and beyond a traditional crime and courtroom drama, Blind Faith probes the depth and complexity of intolerance with remarkable skill. Directed and performed with pure vision and artistry, Blind Faith is a family portrait that reflects a society unprepared for the cultural changes to come—and generally unwilling to embrace them. Dickerson was honored for his cinematography in 1991 with a special SFIFF salute (he is best known for his camera work on Spike Lee “joints”). As a director, Dickerson has a keen eye for the racial and social tensions which define us, pushing them to their limits wherever possible.
—Joanne Parsont
FACTOID #80
Irving ’Bud’ Levin, owner of San Francisco’s Metro Theatre, founded the SFIFF in 1957. However, Levin credited the idea for creating the Festival to the Italian consul general at the time, Pierluigi Alvera, who became one of its staunchest supporters.
