Through a Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People
Film poster
Directed byThomas Allen Harris
Screenplay byThomas Allen Harris
Paul Carter Harrison
Don Perry
Based onReflections in Black: A History of Black Photographers 1840 to the Present
by Deborah Willis
Produced byThomas Allen Harris
Ann Bennett
Don Perry
Deborah Willis
Kimberly Steward
CinematographyMartina Radwan
Edited byMatthew Cohn
K.A. Miille
Music byMiles Jay
Vernon Reid
Production
company
Chimpanzee Productions
Distributed byFirst Run Features
Release dates
  • January 17, 2014 (2014-01-17) (Sundance)
  • August 27, 2014 (2014-08-27) (United States)
Running time
92 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$16,618[1]

Through a Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People is a 2014 documentary film directed by Thomas Allen Harris. It is inspired by Reflections in Black: A History of Black Photographers 1840 to the Present by Deborah Willis, who also produced the film.[2][3] The film had its premiere at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival on January 17, 2014.[4][5]

The film later screened at 64th Berlin International Film Festival in February 2014.[6] The film also screened at 2014 Santa Barbara International Film Festival on 5 February 2014.[7] It won the Justice Award at the festival.[8][9] The film had a theatrical release on August 27, 2014 in United States.[10]

Synopsis

The first documentary to explore the role of photography in shaping the identity, aspirations, and social emergence of African Americans from slavery to the present, Through a Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People probes the recesses of American history through images that have been suppressed, forgotten, and lost.

Reception

The film received mixed to positive reviews from critics. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 61% of 18 film critics have given the film a positive review.[11]

Zeba Blay in her review for Indiewire said that "It shows us the disturbing lynch photographs and minstrel illustrations in all their startling, horrific detail. But it also counterbalances them with countless photos of black people by black people, pictures from family albums all the way to the professional work of some of the most seminal black photographers in America. There’s an understanding that the lynch photos, the regal pictures of Booker T. Washington and Sojourner Truth, the images of Carrie Mae Weems staring straight into the camera in her Kitchen Table Series, all lie on a continuum. They’re happening now. And its through these images we’re privy to a secret history of the black photographer and the black subject, a history reaching far back into the past and shining a light on those who paved the way for everyone, all of us, to affirm our own identities through the images we take of ourselves and each other."[12] Dennis Harvey of Variety gave the film a positive review by saying that, "Though a tad uneven, as a whole the documentary cannily juggles an overview of African-American history in general with the specifics of its photographic representation and talents."[10]

AnOther Magazine added it in their "15 Fascinating Art Documentaries to Watch Now."[13] (2020)

Bustle added it in their "22 Films & Shows To Get Creative Juices Flowing."[14] (2016)

FlavorWire added it in their "50 Essential African-American Independent Films."[15] (2015)

MSNBC added it in their "Celebrating black history: Music and movie syllabus."[16](2015)

The Huffington Post added it in their "10 must see films at (2014) Sundance."[17]

IndieWire added it in their "14 LGBT Films To Look Out For At The 2014 Sundance Film Festival."[18]

Accolades

Accolades
Year Film Festival Category Recipient(s) Result
2016 The Peabody Awards Documentary Thomas Allen Harris Nominated
2016 Emmy Awards News & Documentary Thomas Allen Harris Nominated
2015 American Library Association Notable Videos for Adults Thomas Allen Harris Won
2015 Black Reel Awards Outstanding Independent Documentary Thomas Allen Harris Nominated
2015 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Documentary (Theatrical) Thomas Allen Harris Won
2015 American Historical Association John E. O'Connor Film Award Nomination Thomas Allen Harris Nominated
2014 Santa Barbara International Film Festival The Fund for Santa Barbara Social Justice Award Thomas Allen Harris Won[8][9]
10th Africa Movie Academy Awards Best Diaspora Documentary Thomas Allen Harris Won
Pan African Film Festival Festival Programmers' Award Thomas Allen Harris Won[19]
The National Media Market Best of Show, Collegiate Thomas Allen Harris Won

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Through a Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People". Box Office Mojo.
  2. ↑ "Through a Lens Darkly: How African Americans Use Photography to Shape Their Cultural Representation". Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  3. ↑ "African-American History, From Family Albums to Museum Walls". Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Sundance 2014: New Frontier Films". Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  5. ↑ "'Through A Lens Darkly' Will World Premiere At Sundance 2014 (New Frontier, Spotlight, Midnight Selections)". Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Through A Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People". Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Through A Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People - Thomas Allen Harris". Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  8. 1 2 "Santa Barbara International Film Festival Wraps Up, Award-Winners". Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  9. 1 2 "2014 Award Winning Films Announced". Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  10. 1 2 "Film Review: 'Through a Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People'". Retrieved September 3, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Through a Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People (2014)". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Review: 'Through A Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People'". Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  13. ↑ AnOther (2020-06-22). "15 Fascinating Art Documentaries to Watch Now". AnOther. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  14. ↑ "22 Movies & Shows On Netflix That Creative People Will Love". Bustle. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  15. ↑ Nastasi, Alison. "50 Essential African-American Independent Films". Flavorwire. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  16. ↑ "Celebrating black history: Music and movie syllabus". MSNBC.com. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  17. ↑ "The 10 Must-See Art Films At Sundance". Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  18. ↑ Knegt, Peter (2014-01-15). "Que(e)ries: 14 LGBT Films To Look Out For At The 2014 Sundance Film Festival". IndieWire. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  19. ↑ "2014 Award Winners". Retrieved September 3, 2014.
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