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mkidd312
Reviews
Paris Trout (1991)
A memoir of a dark period in our history
This was a very interesting movie about a time period in America that is hardly discussed anymore. The movie also resonates on many levels. It can be seen as a harsh commentary on race and the dual system of justice that existed at the time, as well as a commentary on class relations between the rich and poor. Paris represented two things. First he represented the white ruling class in a southern Georgia town less than one hundred years after the end of slavery, and the psychological social structure that had developed and endured during slavery was still alive and well although rarely mentioned. In the movie race is like the 500 pound elephant in the room that everyone knows is there but we dare not discuss. Secondly Paris represents the business community which had it's ruling rights at that time in such a way that when he blatantly broke the law, he was indignant about being charged. As if to say "I am above the law". This attitude still exists among some capitalists who refuse to pay taxes by writing everything off but become upset by the creation of programs to assist the disenfranchised of society. So this movie was disturbing as a social commentary of a period in America's dark past, but needs to be remembered.
A House Divided: Denmark Vesey's Rebellion (1982)
An obscure story in American history
I saw this movie on television about 30 years ago and I still remember it because of the impression it left on me. It is not that easy to find a complete definitive story on Denmark Vessey. There are disagreements among those who have written about him and much speculation because like Nat Turner, he caused fear and outrage among the status quo of his time. I heard that they forbade his name to be mentioned by slaves, after the rebellion, on threat of punishment. and it also must be remembered that this occurred not long after the Haitian revolution and some speculate that Vessey was inspired by it and intended to flee with the slave to Haiti. This movie seems to handle the topic well by focusing on what led to the rebellion and the aftermath.Also it stands in stark contrast to the stereotype of the docile, humiliated, obedient slave which most of us has seen portrayed in other features of the period. The movie was the first time I saw the African-American portrayed in the media as resistant to his human bondage as a group. To this day many of the people in Charleston S. C. don't even know his story, which is a shame. I cannot find this movie on DVD, but if I could it definitely would be in my collection. Yaphet Kotto gives a strong performance as Vessey. This is worth watching.