The Last Black Man in San Francisco
Fri Sep 27, 6:30pm & 9pm
Carbon Arc, 1747 Summer Street
$8.75
When watching The Last Black Man in San Francisco, the most striking aspect of the film is how beautiful it looks. Sublime lighting and shots of the city’s vast landscape make the flick feel, at first, to be a love letter to the San Francisco Bay area—but, as the film roils on, a darker undercurrent is slowly revealed.
The film focuses on two Black men (Jimmie and Mont) searching for their place within the city, even though it seems to have left them behind. After the effects of gentrification forces them out of their home and neighbourhood, the two men aim to reclaim the house they grew up in and return to a sense of normalcy.
The story is based on the experiences of director Joe Talbot and lead actor Jimmie Falls, and this personal touch can be felt throughout the entire story. The two leads—as well as much of the supporting cast—are portrayed as people who have been abandoned by the city, left with seemingly no clear path forward in their lives.
The movie’s very first scene—depicting city officials in hazmat suits cleaning up streets still occupied by lower-class people—perfectly shows the film’s message about gentrification.Â
Phenomenal acting throughout, despite only having one truly well known star (a supporting role played by Danny Glover), combines with a strong script to deliver an emotional journey with a depressing conclusion.
While at points it feels self-indulgent in its message, The Last Back Man only feels that way because of the level of passion Talbot clearly had for this project. An excellent film that shouldn’t be missed.
This article appears in Sep 26 – Oct 2, 2019.