02/19/06 The Spook Who Sat By The Door

The Spook Who Sat By The Door (1973), directed by Ivan Dixon

watched w/ Leslie; theater (Hayti Heritage Center, Durham, NC); Black Diaspora Film Festival

Now, to the much more intellectual staple of the evening. This film festival celebrated Black History Month, and African-American cinema with the theme of "politically speaking" this year. Shown in the church attached to a wonderful cultural center, this became a showcase across many themes (art, religion, politics) in just the screening alone. The film itself posed the situation of filling racial quotas within the ranks of the CIA, training those troops with no intention of ever allowing them to become full-fledged agents of the government. Facing the racist superiors, one man takes on his treatment as a personal call-to-arms for the minorities of the U.S. to take on the government in a no-holds barred guerilla warfare. Based on the controversial novel of the same title, it shows in all to recognized reality what can happen to a world where people aren't given a fair and equal opportunity. This movie survives solely on the raw emotion and importance of the activism being discussed violently. Oh, and a complete side-note to the film festival...we ran into Play from Kid 'N Play there. Sweet.

3 out of 5 stars