Visually beautiful, artfully creative, hard-hitting alternative telling of modern civilization

movieswithgreg

This new 2021 documentary series, by an Oscar-nominated african-american filmmaker, is a breath of fresh air that re-tells the history of modern western civilization from a point of view where white european views are not the default view of history. It does it more gently than the hostile reviews suggest. It focuses mostly on imperialist europe, the US, and africa, with generous helpings of south america included.

It's not close to a straight documentary. It's highly dramatized, with hollywood star Josh Hartness portraying the nameless "heavy" representing the white european or white american oppressor, whether the oppressed be africans in the belgian congo, or native americans in the US.

It liberally and tastefully sews popular lyrical music throughout, not trying to match time periods between the music and its visual subject matter, other than to match the lyrical messages of the songs to the scene.

The filmmaker also interweaves snippets of his own personal journey from childhood to adulthood, and how his life and educational experiences in colonial africa then modern africa and the US, shaped his political, social and economic sensibilities. In doing so, he's not shy to declare his sympathies for leftist interpretations of history.

This project is heavy on graphics, maps, photos, historical film stock, animation, and modern depictions, with a lot of live-action "docudrama" or re-creation of events.

From beginning to end, the filmmaker's voice narrates, providing somber, almost somnambulent rhythms.

In both tone and appearance, this reminds me heavily of the european documentary series "Apocalypse: WWI." There is zero attempt at humor. There is no self-deprecation, no attempts to lighten the mood.

This should be required viewing in high school history whenever post-renaissance european and american history is taught. Unfortunately, in our day and age, this project immediately gets attacked by "deniers" of white privilege.

score 7/10

movieswithgreg 9 April 2021

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw6794279/