Compensation (film)

Compensation is a 1999 independent film co-edited, produced and directed by Zeinabu irene Davis and written by March Arthur Chéry, about a young African American couple at the beginning and end of the twentieth century. It stars Michelle A. Banks and John Earl Jelks in the leading roles. The film was shot throughout Chicago[1] beginning July 1993 and wrapped up early August.

Compensation
Compensation film poster
Directed byZeinabu irene Davis
Produced byZeinabu irene Davis
Written byMarc Arthur Chéry
StarringMichelle A. Banks and John Earl Jelks
Music byReginald R. Robinson and Atiba Y. Jali
CinematographyPierre H. L. Desir, Jr.
Edited byZeinabu irene Davis and Dana Briscoe
Distributed byWomen Make Movies
Release date
  • June 14, 1999 (1999-06-14) (Atlanta Film & Video Festival)
Running time
92 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish, Sign language
Budget$125,000

The film premiered at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival and ran in the Dramatic Feature category.[2] The film was screened in San Diego, California at the Museum of Photographic Arts.[3] It was also screened at IFP the Independent Film Market in New York, New York and the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles.

Plot

Inspired by a 1906 poem from early African American writer, Paul Laurence Dunbar, the unique drama explores aspects of Black culture in both turn of the century and present day Chicago in two parallel love stories, both about the relationship between a deaf woman and a hearing man. The narrative revolves about two couples, Malindy and Arthur, and Malaika and Nico, respectively taking place at the beginning and end of the twentieth century. Both pairs revel in the splendor or romance and a possible lifetime commitment only to be forced to deal with the dreaded disease of their difference times: tuberculosis and AIDS. The multi-layered film tackles various issues that arise in the relationship of the "mixed" couples.[4]

Cast
  • Michelle A. Banks as Malindy Brown and Malaika Brown
  • John Earl Jelks as Arthur Jones and Nico Jones
  • Christopher Smith as William Young and dancer
  • K. Lynn Stephens as Aminata Brown
  • Nirvana Cobb as Tildy
  • Kevin L. Davis as Tyrone

Production

Filming

The entire film was shot in Chicago, Illinois to play a tribute to the director's previous residence and to expose the audience to the beautiful city. Well-known filming locations within Chicago.[4]

  • Ephphatha Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Deaf
  • Chicago Public Library, Legler Branch
  • Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
  • Northwestern University, Evanston
  • Salsedo Press, Chicago
  • The Warehouse, Chicago

Music

Reginald R. Robinson, a noted ragtime composer and performer, served as the film's period music score composer. He incorporated the piano and mandolin into all his compositions for the film.

Atiba Y. Jali, served as the contemporary music score composer. He used instruments that are not as common such as the balafou, berimbau and yidaki but also included the drums and flute.

Film Festivals

Critical Reception

The film was overall well received by many notable film critics and enjoyed a positive reception from both critics and moviegoers.

  • Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times hailed Compensation "beautiful and poignant" and "illuminating and captivating".[6]
  • Ian Grey of City Paper, Baltimore's Free Alternative Weekly, praised Compensation as "brilliant".[7]
  • David Elliott of The San Diego Union Tribune called the film a "classy achievement".[8]
  • Roger Ebert praised the film as "dreamy, atmosphere reveries, rich in humor and social observation" as well as "enchanting".[9]
  • Rick Lyman of The New York Times noted the film is "structurally daring".[10]
  • Greg Dimitriadis called the film "...a powerful film. It is boldly experimental. Illness and death are presented as forces that persons cannot control. The death of a loved one is blunted by the gift of love itself. That gift compensates for life’s losses. In showing this, Davis’s film brings great dignity and respect to the situations of African American women and men. At the same time, her film honors African American culture and history."[11]
  • Elizabeth Alexander noted the poem that inspired the film "should move this very contemporary filmmaker narratively to the past but technically forward to innovation".[12]

Release

Distribution

The film is available on VHS and DVD distributed by Women Make Movies.[13]

Awards and accolades

1999 Gordon Parks Directing Award, Independent Feature Project, New York[14]

1999 Reel Black Award for Outstanding Film, Black Film and Video Network[4]

15th Annual IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards, Nominated Best First Feature Film Under $500,000[4]

See also

References
  1. Archived 2010-06-12 at the Wayback Machine, University of Buffalo, Department of African American Studies
  2. , Sundance Institute Archives.
  3. "UCSD Social Sciences". Ucsdnews.ucsd.edu. 23 May 2000. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  4. Compensation Press Release.
  5. , http://www.wmm.com/filmcatalog/makers/fm26.shtml.
  6. [Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times: 'Compensation' Rewards, 24 February 2000], Los Angeles Times.
  7. City Paper, Baltimore's Free Alternative Weekly.
  8. David Elliott, The San Diego Union Tribune: The Weekly Guide, 'Compensation' speaks in a visual language, 1–7 June 2000.
  9. [Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: Showcase, 25 January 2000].
  10. [Rick Lyman, The New York Times: Taking a Chance, 4 February 2000]
  11. .
  12. .
  13. http://www.wmm.com/filmcatalog/makers/fm26.shtml.
  14. , Women Make Movies website.
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