
The inheritance is a house in Philadelphia bequeathed to Julian (Eric Lockley) by his grandmother. He asks his girlfriend Gwen (Nozipho Mclean) to move in, and next thing he knows there’s an entire collective, The House of Ubutu, a commune that will be a safe space for Black folk. On the wall, prominently, there is a poster for Godard’s radical Maoist movie La Chinoise, and this is clearly a key inspiration for writer-director Ephraim Asili: primary colour-coded costumes and production design, dialetical montage and conversations conducted in quoration marks. Others include Julius K. Nyerere’s Essays on Socialism and Sonia Sanchez’s poetry, both quoted explicitly, alongside a dissertation on the Nuer language of South Sudan and a fair bit of free jazz. It’s heady but playful, a call to arms that resonates loud and clear.
Celebrating Black Futures is co-presented with the Vancouver Art Gallery and curated by Kika Memeh.
A playful, erudite, and boundary-blurring examination of what performing Black theory, literature, music, and testimony in a contemporary Philadelphia commune might set in motion.
James Lattimer, Cinema Scope
A joyous celebration of Blackness. The Inheritance is alive, drunk off the colors and textures of West Philadelphia.
Ryan Lattanzio, Indiewire
One of the best movies of the year. An excellent debut. Observed with warmth and playful humor, without ever losing sight of serious political purposes and the potential for poetry therein.
Kieron Corliss, Sight & Sound
Co-Presented with
Media Partner
Community Partner
Ephraim Asili
Nozipho McClean, Eric Lockley, Chris Jarell, Julian Rozzell Jr.
USA
2020
English
Book Tickets
Monday February 24
Indigenous & Community Access
Credits
Screenwriter
Ephraim Asili
Cinematography
Ephraim Asili, Ryan Jenkin
Editor
Ephraim Asili
Production Design
Ephraim Asili
See More Black History Month Programming
The Inheritance
The inheritance is a house in Philadelphia bequeathed to Julian by his grandmother. He asks his girlfriend Gwen to move in, and next thing he knows there's an entire collective, The House of Ubutu, a commune that will be a safe space for Black folk.
Atlantics
In Dakar, Ada loves Souleiman but has been promised to another man. One night, Souleiman and his co-workers leave the country by sea. Several days later, a fire ruins Ada's wedding and a mysterious fever starts to spread. It seems Souleiman has returned.
Chez Jolie Coiffure
Having immigrated to Belgium from Cameroon, Sabine manages Chez Jolie Coiffure. Her salon patrons, many of them undocumented immigrants, are not only be made to feel beautiful but can also escape the daily difficulties and harsh realities of their lives.
Quincy Mayes Brazilian Soul Experience
The Quincy Mayes Brazilian Soul Experience is thrilled to present a special performance showcasing the diverse, Afro-centric roots of samba, soul, and funk alongside a screening of the essential Brazilian film City of God.
Dilli Dark
Michael Okeke left Nigeria six years ago to survive in the frequently disconnecting and overcrowded New Delhi, which he despises heartily. He dreams of true love and a better job but is pushed into only the 4 Cs: cell phone, cocaine, cash, and clients.
Tori and Lokita
Sharing a sibling-like bond, immigrants Lokita (17) and Tori (12) work as performers in a trattoria, dealing drugs on the side, while navigating an indifferent bureaucracy. When Lokita is held captive in a marijuana grow op, events spiral out of control.