Nottingham Contemporary

The Screen presents: Sonic Textures, Shattered Scenes

a montage of 6 film stills with text in the middle reading "sonic textures shattered scenes 06.11.24 -11.12.24 . a selection of landmark films by black artists working in independent cinema in the 1970s-90s" film stills clockwise from top left show: 1. a man in a suit walking away from a building 2. a woman in a pink dress and silk scarf looking away from the camera. 3. a man sitting in front of a sideboard with photos and ornaments on it. 4. a man playing a trumpet with a woman standing behind him. 5. a woman and child huddled together. 6. a person taking a polaroid picture.

The Screen Presents: Sonic Textures, Shattered Scenes - A selection of landmark films by Black artists working in independent cinema in the 1970s-90s.

This season showcases truly groundbreaking cinema by artists and thinkers that expanded the ways the Black American experience could be represented, examined, and cherished. These are experimental, personal, and radical films by academics, musicians, poets, writers, actors, photographers, and visual artists who changed cinema forever. In turns thrilling, cerebral, and sensuous, this diverse programme of films spanning various genres are united by invoking the richness of the lives we live. In recent years many of these previously-overlooked films have been restored, and even re-cut, enabling new generations to see these films as they were originally intended.

Tickets are £6, or you can purchase a season ticket for all of the films for £30.

Ganja & Hess (1973) dir. Bill Gunn - Wed 6 Nov, 6.30pm
Losing Ground (1982) dir. Kathleen Collins - Wed 13 Nov, 6.30pm
My Brother's Wedding (1983) dir. Charles Burnett - Wed 20 Nov, 6.30pm
Drylongso (1998) dir. Cauleen Smith - Wed 27 Nov, 6.30pm
Eve's Bayou (1997) dir. Kasi Lemmon - Wed 4 Dec, 6.30pm
Mo' Better Blues (1990) dir. Spike Lee - Wed 11 Dec, 6.30pm

Please note that many of the films in this season reflect historical attitudes that audiences may find outdated and offensive.

The season title is taken from the article Cosmic Freeze Frames: A Poetics of Bill Gunn by Carlos Valladares on gagosian.com (Spring 2021)

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Recording:
The Screen presents: Sonic Textures, Shattered Scenes
Dates:
Fri 11 Oct
Format:
Image

Related

The Screen - Drylongso Film
Wed 27 Nov, 6.30pm
a film still showing a person taking a polaroid photo. yellow text over the image reads "sonic textures shattered scenes. drylongso (1998) dir. cauleen smith. cert 15. 1h 26m. 27 November 6.30pm. the screen at contemporary"
The Screen - Eve's Bayou Film
Wed 4 Dec, 6.30pm
a film still showing A young person reclining in the foreground, as a woman looks on from the background leaning against a tree branch. white text over the image reads "sonic textures shattered scenes. Eve's bayou (1997) dir. kasi lemmon. cert 15. 1h 48m. 4 December 2024. the screen at contemporary"
The Screen - Ganja & Hess Past, Film
Wed 6 Nov, 6.30pm
a film still showing a man in a suit and glasses walking away from a building. text over the image reads "sonic textures shattered scenes. ganja & hess (1973) dir. bill gunn. cert 18. 1h 52m. 6 November 6.30pm. the screen at contemporary."
The Screen - Losing Ground Past, Film
Wed 13 Nov, 6.30pm
a film still showing a man in the foreground holding a picture frame, he is wearing a yellow tee-shirt and black dungarees. Behind him a woman in a floral dress reclines on a sofa. yellow text over the image reads "sonic textures shattered scenes. losing ground (1982) dir. Kathleen collins. cert 15 129 minutes. 13 November 6.30pm. the screen at contemporary"
The Screen - Mo' Better Blues Film
Wed 11 Dec, 6.30pm
a film Still showing for people standing close together all looking in the same direction with stern expressions. The central figure carries a trumpet resting against his shoulder. The image has a red border and red text over the image reads "sonic textures shattered scenes. mo' better blues (1990) dir. spike lee. cert 15. 129 minutes. 11 December 6.30pm. the screen at contemporary
The Screen - My Brother's Wedding Past, Film
Wed 20 Nov, 6.30pm
a film still showing A man with a moustache looks out towards the right, he appears to be in mid conversation. In the background are several photographs and artefacts sat on a sideboard. white text over the image reads "sonic textures shattered scenes. my brother's wedding (1983) dir. Charles Burnett. cert 12. 1h 55m. 20 November 6.30pm. the screen at contemporary"
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