This festival of work by black artists from around the world continues Friday, August 11, through Thursday, August 31, at the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State. Unless otherwise noted, tickets are $9, $5 for Film Center members; for more information call 312-846-2800. Following is the schedule for August 11 through 17; a complete festival schedule is available online at www.chicagoreader.com
Best of Chicago voting is live now. Vote for your favorites »
In this 2005 musical based on “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” a “Zerbo” man with a “Krowa” wife (reference to Serbs and Croats intended) is made a provincial governor in Africa, and schemers try to use the feud between these ethnic groups to oust him. Director Mweze D. Ngangura says Bollywood was an influence, and the Afropop lite works well in this gentle and humane plea for ethnic tolerance. It’s also a nice demonstration of how power depends on appearance and ceremony. (87 min.) Also showing is Yann Chayia’s Monsieur Etienne (2005, 23 min.), the story of an old man trying to decide which of two friends’ funerals to attend and an affecting portrait of the rhythms of aging. Both in French with subtitles. (FC) a Mon 8/14, 8 PM, and Thu 8/17, 6:15 PM.
Shorts in various formats by Christine F. Turner, Layla Mashavu, Harold R. Caldwell, and Chicago native Dale Pierce Nelson, who will attend the screening. 90 min. a Thu 8/17, 8:30 PM.
Somebodies
