Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. 2020. Directed by George C. Wolfe

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Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. 2020. USA. Directed by George C. Wolfe. Screenplay by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, based on the play by August Wilson. With Chadwick Boseman, Viola Davis, Colman Domingo. 94 min.

When the mood is right, and players are perfect, you can just feel the heat coming off the screen! George C. Wolfe’s adaption of August Wilson’s scorching, music-infused pressure-cooker of a play is so hot it almost bursts into flames. Lead by a transformed Viola Davis and a heart-wrenching Chadwick Boseman (in his final performance), the stellar cast delivers an unmissable work of screen-staged genius. Set in 1927, but addressing the all-too-contemporary reality of Black art being co-opted by white industry, this film could not be more timely. Courtesy of Netflix

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Watch a Q&A with George C. Wolfe, Viola Davis, Glynn Turman, Colman Domingo, and Michael Potts

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This film accompanies The Contenders 2020.
This film is part of Film Programming.

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