What's New and Streaming for the Culture in May!

THIN SKIN

Ahamefule Joe Oluo’s days are spent at a soul-deadening corporate job and his nights come alive behind a trumpet at Seattle jazz clubs. As he struggles to climb out of the ruins of his broken marriage, his estranged father returns to his life.

BIRTH! PLACE?

Birth! Place? is a short documentary set in Washington, DC, about a pregnant black woman who plans a home birth without a home of her own, faces opposition to her birth choices and other social and structural barriers but celebrates the opportunity to bring a new life into the world.

THEY ARE WE

THEY ARE WE tells the story of how a family separated by the transatlantic slave trade for 170 years sing and dance its way back together.

THE HIP-HOP KID

An eager and rambunctious 13-year-old named Benji dreams of becoming a hip-hop rap star. He seeks the tutelage of a down-and-out old school hip-hop great named Kango, who is 63 years old. However, Benji finds far more than he bargained for when he encounters an attractive and edgy 18-year-old female skateboarder named Sunny, who ends up teaching him a thing or two.

MAMA COLONEL

Actively involved in the struggle to combat violence against women and children, and after a twelve-year posting to Bukavu, Colonel Honorine Munyole is suddenly transferred to Kisangani. Soon, dozens of women are flooding into her office: the wounds opened during the Six-Day War have not even begun to heal.

SUNDOWN ROAD

When three college students get stuck on an isolated road, they soon find themselves in all too familiar territory.

SONS OF TOLEDO

‘Sons of Toledo’ delves into the poignant narrative of the city’s Black-owned barber shops, showcasing their pivotal role on the frontlines of their communities. Particularly poignant is their commitment to caring for young men who view their shops as sanctuaries amidst the escalating specter of gun violence in their neighborhoods. This documentary film, narrated by, with, and for members of the community, seamlessly intertwines elements of documentary filmmaking with a narrative thread drawn from the lived experiences of these barbers. Through their poignant stories, ‘Sons of Toledo’ sheds light on the profound impact of these establishments, where far too many young patrons receive their final cuts.

TEACHER DON’T TEACH ME NONSENSE

‘Teacher Don’t Teach Me Nonsense’ is a documentary that explores the growing phenomenon of Afro-descendants returning to Africa to live. The film follows the journey of an educational professional navigating the Texas school system, addressing issues of school equity, racism, and miseducation while seeking personal freedom. It contrasts this experience with the life and legacy of Tanzania’s founding father, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, and his empowering policies such as Ujamaa and Education for Self-Reliance. By examining culturally unresponsive curriculums and harmful teaching practices in America, the documentary offers solutions rooted in Tanzania’s history of independence.

NO GHOST IN THE MORGUE

Medical student Keity begrudgingly accepts an internship at the morgue. Between the dead bodies, her unconventional colleagues and seeing her grandmother’s spirit, will she tough it out?

THIS IS LIFE

Follow the intertwined lives of sisters Amara and Shera as they confront love, trust, and betrayal in this gripping drama series.

SANTO AND SHEEPY

Santo missed his friends, so his parents surprised him with Sheepy. Sheepy is a cute stuffed animal who teaches Santo how fun it is to have a Sheep as his bestest friend. Sheepy has so much love to give!

CLEAR

CLEAR follows Ember Bearheart Johnson’s first day at home after a 16-year prison sentence for a crime she didn’t commit. Reuniting with her daughter, who was an infant at the time she was incarcerated, is bittersweet as she uncovers how her family’s lives have gone on without her after all these years.

YAFA, FORGIVENESS

Demba is an African who has fled an oppressive regime in his own country and is seeking asylum in Paris. One night he encounters Lucien, a policeman from the Caribbean, who speaks to him in the voice of the dominant class. But in his country Demba is a professor of History and Geography while Lucien left school early to help his mother, a cleaning lady.

FOODS OF KENYA

Ebullient host, Mwaniki Mageria, visits vast tribes in Kenya, interacting with various types of people, as he divulges diverse ways of life and culture, centering this experience around food and how different Kenyan communities prepared food and the cultural nuances around it.

GOODBYE

This short film is about Melody, who seeks closure from an unfortunate situation and gets interrupted by unresolved love.

MALI BLUES

In this vibrant concert film, four dynamic Malian musicians use their music to stand up to religious extremism.

SAINT LUCIA, GEOLOGICAL UNIQUENESS

Romantic, charming, and colorful, the Caribbean island of St Lucia, part of the Lesser Antilles, is famous for its spectacular landscapes and wildlife. This enchanting island of volcanic origin is located in the Caribbean Sea.

RALPH ELLISON, AN AMERICAN JOURNEY

Ralph Ellison: An American Journey is the first documentary on one of the most gifted and intellectually provocative authors of modern American literature. It establishes Ellison as a central figure in contemporary debates over art, politics, race and nationhood. Narrated by Andre Braugher, the film brilliantly presents the first scenes ever filmed from Ellison’s landmark novel, Invisible Man.

kweliNEWS

Follow Us

What’s New and Streaming for the Culture in May!