Sunday, December 8, 1991
Co-sponsored/co-presented by:
Langston Hughes Institute; the University at Buffalo's Department of Media Study, Department of African American Studies; Squeaky Wheel.
Presented at:
Langston Hughes Institute
TO SLEEP WITH ANGER (Charles Burnett, 1990, 102 min.).
ARCHIVAL NOTE (from Turner Classic Movies, 2008): "In 1990, Burnett wrote and directed the haunting family drama, To Sleep With Anger. Danny Glover, parlaying his recent stardom from Lethal Weapon to get funding, co-produced and starred in this critically lauded film as the charming but mildly supernatural Southern family friend, Harry. Harry insinuates himself into a troubled family, forcing inner turmoil to the surface. Burnett received acclaim in America and abroad for the film. In 1991, it won Independent Spirit Awards for Best Director and Best Screenplay for Burnett and Best Actor for Glover. The Library of Congress later selected this film (in addition to Killer of Sheep) for its prestigious National Film Registry. The National Society of Film Critics honored Burnett for best screenplay for To Sleep With Anger, making him the first African American to win in this category in the group's 25-year history. While the Los Angeles Times reported that Burnett's movie reminded viewers of Anton Chekov, Time magazine wrote: 'If Spike Lee's films are the equivalent of rap music—urgent, explosive, profane—then Burnett's movie is good, old urban blues.' The film also received a Special Jury Recognition Award at the 1990 Sundance Film Festival and a Special Award from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. Both Burnett and Glover were nominated for New York Film Critics Circle Awards."
Some publications related to this event:
September, October, November and December, 1991. - 1991