The Glass Shield
Directed by Charles Burnett
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1h 50m
Directed by Charles Burnett • 1994 • United States
Starring Michael Boatman, Lori Petty, Ice Cube
Charles Burnett’s powerful police drama follows J. J. Johnson (Michael Boatman), an idealistic rookie cop and the only Black officer in an all-white precinct, as he confronts racism and corruption within the LAPD after a Black man (Ice Cube) is framed for murder. Tackling hard-hitting issues of institutional violence within the framework of a stylish, riveting neonoir thriller, Burnett’s fourth feature was largely buried by distributor Miramax on its initial release, but its subversive impact has perhaps only grown with time.
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Killer of Sheep
Directed by Charles Burnett • 1977 • United States
Starring Henry Gayle Sanders, Kaycee Moore, Charles BracyA quiet revelation of American independent filmmaking, Charles Burnett’s lyrical debut feature unfolds as a mosaic of Black life in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, where Stan (Henr...
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Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property
Directed by Charles Burnett • 2003 • United States
Starring Carl Lumbly, Tommy Hicks, James OpherNat Turner’s slave rebellion is a watershed event in America’s long and troubled history of slavery and racial conflict. NAT TURNER: A TROUBLESOME PROPERTY tells the story of that violent confrontat...
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My Brother's Wedding
Directed by Charles Burnett • 1983 • United States
Starring Everett Silas, Jessie Holmes, Gaye Shannon-BurnettRecut and restored twenty-five years after its ill-fated premiere, Charles Burnett’s second feature is an eye-opening revelation—wise, funny, heartbreaking, and timeless. Pierce Mundy w...
