TONI MORRISON: THE PIECES I AM
Join award-winning writer and Director of Caramel Film Club, Be Manzini, and friends, who following the film will read their favourite passages from Morrison’s famed writings.
The Pieces I Am offers an artful and intimate meditation on the life and works of the legendary storytelling and Nobel Prize winner. From her childhood in the steel town of Lorain, Ohio to ’70s-era book tours with Muhammad Ali, from the front lines with Angela Davis to her own riverfront writing too, Toni Morrison leads an assembly of her peers, critics and colleagues on an exploration of race, America, history and the human condition as seen through the prism of her own literature. Inspired to write because no one took a “little black girl” seriously, Morrison reflects on her lifelong deconstruction of the master narrative. Woven together with a rich collection of art, history, literatures and personality, the film includes discussions about her many critically acclaimed works, including novels ‘The Bluest Eye’, ‘Sula’ and ‘Song of Solomon’, her role as an editor of the iconic African-American literature and her time teaching at Princeton University.
In addition to Ms. Morrison, the film features interviews with Hilton Als, Angela Davis, Fran Lebowitz, Walter Mosley, Sonia Sanchez and Oprah Winfrey, who turned Morrison’s novel “Beloved” into a feature film. Using Timothy Greenfield-Sanders’ elegant portrait-style interviews, Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am includes original music by Kathryn Bostic, a specially created opening sequence by artist Mickalene Thomas, and evocative works by other contemporary African-American artists including Kara Walker, Rashid Johnson and Kerry James Marshall.
Speakers:
Ronke Adékoluẹjo
RADA trained Adékoluẹjo has an impressive resumé of stage and screen credits including ‘Suspects’ (Channel 5), ‘Cold Feet’ (ITV) Micheala Cole’s BAFTA-nominated ‘Chewing Gum’ (E4) and ‘NW’ (BBC). In 2017, she had a memorable turn in ‘Doctor Who’ (BBC), playing Penny in the episode ‘Extremis’ opposite Peter Capaldi’s ‘Time Lord’ in the 10th season of this long-running science fiction show. Her stand out role came as Yvonne in BFI and Film4 musical feature, ‘Been So Long’, and she followed this with a cameo in Steven Spielberg’s ‘Ready Player One’ as well as appearing as Katherine Dane in Disney’s biographical drama ‘Christopher Robin’ (both 2018). She has just wrapped Inua Ellams’ ‘Three Sisters’ at the National Theatre.
As well as acting, Ronke also writes (although she prefers the term ‘storyteller’). Her play ‘Teleportation’ formed part of Steven Kavuma’s This Is Black Festival in the summer of 2019.
David Kwaw Mensah
Photographer, photo-blogger, film studies graduate, David Kwaw Mensah is a former film journalist and editor for publications such as Live Magazine, Black Film and Media (BFM), Soul Culture, The Looking Glass Collective and the BFI’s Black World publication. His portrait photography, explores, humanises, deifies and celebrates Black faces in London has been exhibited by the Africa Centre (in both London and Lagos), 50 Golbourne, TheOthers and Nooru Box in Paris whilst his documentary work has featured in Redull’s Amphiko series, which documents the lives of people making a difference in their communities.
Katherine O’Garro
Educator, coach, author, advocate, and life-long proponent of social justice, with nearly two decade’s worth of experience. In her current role, Katherine coaches social activists to produce a reimagined version of research, including looking at the impact of historical trauma on Black children with her team at Rivers Coaching.
She has deep roots in the community being a former English teacher and has worked extensively in London she is currently co creating a documentary entitled ‘Carnival & Cricket’.
Be Manzini
Referred to as the film-poet over the years Be Manzini has found ways to uniquely combine her passion for poetry, film and well-being. The first ever: Writer In Residence for Sundance, poet-on-tour with film charity Birds’ Eye View, poet on the Mark Kermode MK3D live show, writing facilitator for Virgin Sport. Known for her ability to create universal and nurturing spaces as a workshop facilitator she teaches adults and children alike. A writer and speaker who has been resident at the Southbank Centre, is a regular panelist for film, Manzini is also the Director of Caramel Film Club spot-lighting Black talent and supporting diversity.
Her published work appears in various anthologies including ‘Red’ edited by Kwame Dawes, and she has been commissioned to write for The Theatre Royal, Hoxton Hall, Autograph B, Tamasha as well as performing for leading poetry organisations such as Apples & Snakes. Manzini’s poetry-films have shown at the Royal Festival Hall, ICA, BFI and various cinemas and film festivals in the UK and abroad.
Twitter: @BeCreates
IG: BeManzini
