The triple-threat talent Gordon Parks gets carte blanche to film his own autobiographical novel back in his old home town — and the result is one of the better depictions of growing up black in the Midwest. Parks’ memories don’t wield a fiery political agenda, nor does he say that ‘there were good people on both sides.’ It was what it was and it wasn’t always pretty. As young Newt, Kyle Johnson ‘does the right thing’ and his experience helps explain the pervading lack of faith in justice, to put it mildly. Parks’ beautiful film remains positive, reflecting his warm memories, and his direction gives us a full ensemble of black talent at work: this is said to be the first Hollywood film produced and directed by a black man.
The Learning Tree
Blu-ray
The Criterion Collection 1107
1969 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 107 min. / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date December 14, 2021 / 39.95
Starring: Kyle Johnson,...
The Learning Tree
Blu-ray
The Criterion Collection 1107
1969 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 107 min. / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date December 14, 2021 / 39.95
Starring: Kyle Johnson,...
- 12/21/2021
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
It goes without saying that filmmaking is truly a labor of love.
Whether it be a film breaking box office records with a team of writers and a director who is simply there to shoot actors acting, or be it the smallest of small independent film, within any production you will find a person or group of people putting their heart and soul into the film.
This may not be any more clear in the 1969 film, The Learning Tree.
Written and directed by Gordon Parks, the film is based off of a 1964 semi-autobiographical novel of the same name, penned by Parks, and now, 22 years after being selected to join the National Film Registry here in the Us, the Warner Archive has brought the public this beloved and absolutely fantastic look at not only growing up, but growing up in a time and world where you aren’t wanted.
Learning tree...
Whether it be a film breaking box office records with a team of writers and a director who is simply there to shoot actors acting, or be it the smallest of small independent film, within any production you will find a person or group of people putting their heart and soul into the film.
This may not be any more clear in the 1969 film, The Learning Tree.
Written and directed by Gordon Parks, the film is based off of a 1964 semi-autobiographical novel of the same name, penned by Parks, and now, 22 years after being selected to join the National Film Registry here in the Us, the Warner Archive has brought the public this beloved and absolutely fantastic look at not only growing up, but growing up in a time and world where you aren’t wanted.
Learning tree...
- 3/4/2011
- by Joshua Brunsting
- CriterionCast
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