This festival of work by black artists from around the world continues Friday, August 10, through Thursday, August 30, 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 10 through 16; a complete festival schedule is available online at www.chicagoreader.com.
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Fassytails Director Roxxy Cooley adapted her own stage play for this video about generations of a Chicago family plagued by unwanted teen pregnancies. The story starts out on a light note, with a 12-year-old innocent (Toya Turner) watched over by a family housekeeper (Cooley) who’s a relentless scold about boys. Both actresses play their parts so broadly, though, that they don’t mesh with the more naturalistic performers, and as a result the transition from comedy to tragedy is jarring. Cooley’s point about the importance of open, informed communication is unassailable, but it would have been better made with more focused action and less rambling dialogue. The sound recording is uneven, lens flares distract, and there’s no excuse for leaving in a shot in which someone knocks the camera. 120 min. (AG) Cooley and members of the cast and crew will attend both screenings. a Sun 8/12, 5 PM, and Tue 8/14, 8 PM.
Love and Other 4 Letter Words Tangi Miller (Madea’s Family Reunion) cowrote, produced, and stars in this blatantly predictable comedy. A Chicago TV personality tries to appease her dying grandmother in Alabama by pretending to be engaged; after rallying miraculously, grandma dispatches the TV star’s geeky childhood pal, now grown into a handsome minister, to check out the new fiance. It’s all about as convincing as some of the LA locations that double for Chicago (one backyard is graced by palm trees). Steven Ayromlooi directed. 86 min. (AG) Miller will attend the Saturday screening. a Sat 8/11, 8:30 PM, and Wed 8/15, 8:15 PM.
Black History: Lost and Found 102 min. a Mon 8/13, 6:15 PM.
