althea1

Sunday March 20th 3.45pm

www.phoenixcnema.co.uk  52 High Road, 2 mins from East Finchley tube, Northern Line

The Black female Tennis hero who inspired the Williams sisters with her amazing two time win of Wimbledon in racist 1950's Britain.
Althea Gibson's life and achievements transcend sports. A truant from the rough streets of Harlem, Althea emerged as a most unlikely queen of the highly segregated tennis world in the 1950s. Her roots as a sharecropper's daughter, her family's migration north to Harlem in the 1930s, mentoring from Sugar Ray Robinson, David Dinkins and others, and fame that thrust her unwillingly into the glare of the early Civil Rights movement, all bring her story into a much broader realm of the American story.

No player, not even the great Arthur Ashe (who came a decade after Althea), overcame more obstacles to become a champion than Althea Gibson; the first African-American to play at (and win) Wimbledon and the US Open was a woman. She was celebrated by ticker-tape parades in New York City, twice, to welcome her home after hard-fought victories. There was no professional tennis circuit for women in her era, so her options were limited. As Althea said, "You can't eat a crown." When she the #1 player in the world, she still could not afford her own apartment, and became constantly indebted to her benefactors.

This event is an extension of the BFI African Odysseys programme in association with the Phoenix Cinema: Inspirational films by and about the people of Africa, from archive classics to new cinema. Explore the African roots of World Cinema through our monthly programme of Sunday screenings.
Supported by Black History Walks www.blackhistorywalks.co.uk

 

tanna

Sat 12 March 2 to 5pm

BFI Southbank, Belvedere Road SE1
Tube: Waterloo www.bfi.org.uk  

Part of African Odysseys at the BFI

The first-ever film shot entirely in Vanuatu tells a story of forbidden love, rites of passage,global warming, respect for elders and African sprituality.

The eternal story of young lovers breaking all the rules and risking everything to be together is beautifully told in “Tanna,” Based on dramatic events that took place on the volcanic island of Tanna in 1987, the film weaves fascinating details of African life into a universally accessible and emotionally affecting romantic drama. Very well performed by non-professionals drawn from communities whose history is represented on screen, following its Venice world premiere, and has a shot at niche theatrical play in selected markets. The film’s most visually striking sequence finds Wawa and Dain standing at the mouth of an active volcano. According to beliefs on Tanna the volcano is home to Yahul, a Spirit Mother whose aura teaches wisdom, respect and knowledge.
Very much about female experiences and rites of passage in a society whose foundations are shifting, the film surrounds Wawa’s daring actions with enriching observations by her mother and grandmother

Part of the film’s success can be attributed to events that took place long before cameras rolled. The producers spent seven months living with the Yakel, a people whose customs and lifestyle have changed little for centuries. During this time the filmmakers were told of a great love story from the recent past.
Plus Q and A

Watch trailer here http://media.smh.com.au/entertainment/trailers/trailer-tanna-6924993.html
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