Looking for Langston (1989)

  • NR
  • 10/31/1989 (US)
  • Drama
  • 45m

Overview

A black and white, fantasy-like recreation of high-society gay men during the Harlem Renaissance, with archival footage and photographs intercut with a story. A wake is going on, with mourners gathered around a coffin. Downstairs is an elegant bar where tuxedoed men dance and talk. One of them has a dream in which he comes upon Beauty, who seems to reject him, although when he awakes, Beauty is sleeping beside him. His story and his visits to the jazz and dance club are framed by voices reading from the poetry and essays of Hughes and others. The text is rarely explicit, but the freedom of gay Black men in the 1920s in Harlem is suggested and celebrated visually.

Isaac Julien

Director, Screenplay

Cast

Ben Ellison's headshot

Ben Ellison

Alex
Matthew Baidoo's headshot

Matthew Baidoo

Beauty
Akim Mogaji's headshot

Akim Mogaji

James
John Wilson's headshot

John Wilson

Karl
Dencil Williams's headshot

Dencil Williams

Marcus
Guy Burgess's headshot

Guy Burgess

Dean
Dublin James Wahlberg's headshot

Dublin James Wahlberg

Carlos
Harry Donaldson's headshot

Harry Donaldson

Leatherboy

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