Black Joy

Synopsis

Based on Jamal Ali’s stage play Dark Days and Light Nights, this film, which was nominated for the Golden Palm award at Cannes in 1977, tells the story of a naïve Guyanese immigrant who learns the hard way about life on the streets of Brixton.
Using vivid characters, plenty of action, and a superb soundtrack of soul, funk, dub and reggae, Anthony Simmons’ gritty film is an honest and insightful comic drama, exposing the lives of unemployed black Britons and immigrants in a ghettoised London.

Extras:
-Interview with Anthony Simmons (1997): an archival audio recording, made as part of the British Entertainment History Project, featuring the prolific director in conversation with filmmaker Rodney Giesler.
-Interview with actor Trevor Thomas (2019)
-Interview with actor Floella Benjamin (2019)
-Interview with actor Oscar James (2019)
-Interview with playwright and screenwriter Jamal Ali (2019)
-Interview with producer Martin Campbell (2019)
-Interview with cinematographer Phil Méheux (2019)
-Featurette exploring the film’s London locations (2019)
-Bow Bells (1954): Anthony Simmons’ nostalgic short film about London’s East End

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Year of production

1977

Subjects

Social Studies

Keywords

black communities; immigrant communities; racial identity; unemployment; friendship; masculinity; Brixton

Credits

Director

Anthony Simmons

Contributor

Floella Benjamin

Distribution Formats

Type

DVD

Format

Blu-Ray DVD

Price

£15.99

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

95 minutes

Year

2019

Distributor

Name

Powerhouse/Indicator

 

Available from retail outlets