Seven Songs for Malcolm X (Movie)

The Black Audio Film Collective’s seventh film envisioned the death and life of the African American revolutionary as a seven part study in iconography as narrated by novelist Toni Cade Bambara and actor Giancarlo Espesito. The stylized tableaux vivants that memorialise Malcolm’s life referenced the early 20th century funeral photography of James Van der Zee’s The Harlem Book of the Dead and the elemental static cinematography of Sergei Paradjanov’s The Colour of Pomegranates.

Stream:

1. Malcolm X: Make It Plain (1994) (Movie) (4)
   John Henrik Clarke...Self

   Betty Shabazz...Self

   Peter Goldman...Self

   Benjamin 2X...Self
2. 4 Little Girls (1997) (Movie) (2)
   James Farmer...Self - with Freedom Riders (archive footage) (uncredited)

   

   Spike Lee...Interviewer (voice) (uncredited)
3. Do the Right Thing (1989) (Movie) (2)
   

   Giancarlo Esposito...Buggin Out

   

   Spike Lee...Mookie
4. Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee (2014) (Movie) (2)
   

   Giancarlo Esposito...Self

   

   Spike Lee...Self
5. Making 'Do the Right Thing' (1989) (Movie) (2)
   

   Giancarlo Esposito...Himself

   

   Spike Lee...Himself
6. Malcolm X (1992) (Movie) (2)
   

   Spike Lee...Shorty

   

   Giancarlo Esposito...Thomas Hayer
7. Mo' Better Blues (1990) (Movie) (2)
   

   Spike Lee...Giant

   

   Giancarlo Esposito...Left Hand Lacey (Piano)
8. PoliWood (2009) (Movie) (2)
   

   Giancarlo Esposito...Self

   

   Spike Lee...Self
9. School Daze (1988) (Movie) (2)
   

   Giancarlo Esposito...Julian 'Dean Big Brother Almighty' Eaves

   

   Spike Lee...Darrell 'Half-Pint' Dunlap
10. The Last Angel of History (1996) (Movie) (2)
    Edward George...Data Thief

    Greg Tate...Himself