'I'm Through With White Girls' - A Review And Recap
As I said in THIS POST, I planned on seeing I'm Through With White Girls at the ongoing Afro-Punk Festival here in Brooklyn, NY last night, but my schedule didn't permit me to. So I didn't see the film after all. I'm hoping I can get a screener from the production team at some point, but no guarantees. Although, I'll admit that the more I avoid it, the less interested I am in seeing it, especially as I read and hear more about it from those who have seen it.However, I did come across this review of the film, and an account of the Q&A that followed last night's screening, from someone who was actually present for both. The film's director (Jennifer Sharp), producer (Phyllis Johnson) and screenwriter (Courtney Lilly) were in the theatre for the screening, which was followed by what the reviewer called a "surprisingly feisty Q&A." In fact, her rehashing of the Q&A that followed was more interesting to read, than her lukewarm review of the film! Apparently shit got heated between the jam-packed audience and the film's production crew! Now I really wish was there! Oh well...
The extended review comes from Karina Longworth at SpoutBlog.
Here's a snip:
- Last night’s Q&A didn’t even get started until 11ish and it ran long, and yet most of the audience not only stayed, but seemed eager to participate in a real discussion. I’ve never seen such a thing on a Monday night in Brooklyn. But it wasn’t all a lovefest. At one point during the Q & A, a youngish black woman settled in a front row to ask her question––which was really more of a statement of offense. “I’m a blogger,” she said. “And I have a lot of white girl friends. I was going to blog about this movie tomorrow, but I felt like all I would be able to say is, ‘I saw this really funny movie and I can’t tell you the name.’ A mermer spread through the crowd, soft at first but escalating quickly. “Why couldn’t you say the title?” asked screenwriter Lilly, not quite indignant but clearly tired of audiences getting hung up on this very thing. As if certain that she had an unassailable point, the blogger responded: “Well, what if a movie was called I Am Through With Black Girls?” Lilly could barely get his answer out before the crowd erupted in claps and cheers!
Read the entire review and account of the Q&A that followed here: SPOUTBLOG - I'M THROUGH WITH WHITE GIRLS.
Damnit, Obenson! I woke up today hoping to read your take on this film!
I guess I have no choice but to get back to writing this script...my procrastination crutch for the day has been shot to hell =)
Haha! I was hoping to wake up and read my take on the film as well! Alas, it didn't happen...
I really did try to make the screening, but shit happens sometimes.
I'll catch it eventually.
Good to know you're already writing the screenplay for your next! Cool! I still haven't seen the first one yet. Soon, hopefully...
I just visited that other blog and sounds like a bunch of clueless people griping about the title of the film.
They actually don't see why reversing the racial role and making a film called I'm Through with Black Girls would be unacceptable to a lot of people. I guess they don't realize Hollywood has made that film already about a million times already.
Even though the actual content of the film is not flattering to black women, their only gripe was that the title, and Jay's decision to not date white girls, could potentially hurt the feelings of some white women.
I don't know where I got the original model for the following, but a good title for a review of ITWWG might be:
"Yes, but are white girls through with him?"
Maybe it does not apply to the movie, will have to see it.
I think the original saying is something like "we might be through with history but history is not through with us" or something.
Anyway, intriguing (sp?) title, hopefully it is a nuanced movie & not a broad & shallow work (meaning, I am hoping that the main character realizes that writing off a whole bunch of women as incompatible based on skin color/ethnic background is a weird, bizzare & silly way to do things - also racist, and denies the existence of individuality; or "race"/"color" is just one aspect of an individual's personality & thus just one factor related to compatibality). But if the movie does disappoint, I am sure this topic will be revisited by other indie filmmakers soon, maybe the idea will be handled better the second or third time around.
- Sujewa
Get your mouses warmed up... I'M THROUGH WITH WHITE GIRLS on Netflix! Then... let the blogging begin!