The Last Black Man In San Francisco
A Stunning Portrait Of A Changing World
It seems first-time feature-length director Joe Talbot has an indie hit on his hands with The Last Black Man in San Francisco. The Golden Gate City native won Sundance’s Film Festival Directing Award for the film back in January, and it hit theaters this weekend.
The film follows real-life protagonist Jimmie Fails (who plays himself) on a journey to find himself again in a city he feels has forgotten him. As the city moves to gentrification, Jimmie has to decide to continue the family legacy in a house and place that he loves or move on. It all starts when he revisits his grandfather’s house. His grandfather is played by the wonderful Danny Glover.
Upon watching the trailer, you know there is something special about this film. Every camera angle is calculated and every motion is smooth. Wide shots of San Francisco give us the feeling of a place bigger than we once knew, but close ups of Jimmie provide us with the intimacy expected in an autobiographical role. It’s those portrayals that will keep people going to the theater. So Jimmie Fails better keep his schedule open because he’s about to get a lot of offers after The Last Black Man In San Francisco.
