At a time when genre-based ethnic films slouch between'unremarkable' and' unwatchable ,' the director M. Legend Brown delivers a short film of great promise. The name of the film is "'Kissed by the Devil" and I attended the premier at the most famous movie theater in Texas. Under the heading of full disclosure,I must reveal that I read the feature length screenplay for this film before seeing the short. So, I understood the intricate plot and rich characterizations. Despite knowing the story arc, I found this film an important work.
"Kissed by the Devil,'stunningly photographed by Michael Ciancio has an almost respiratory quality to it. The film invites you into a journey of a shared secret amongst a family-- a secret where many possess a uneven fragment, but no one can can grasp the whole.
Isn't it secrets and misguided cover-ups that bring most families to the brink of implosion, wreaking intergenerational havoc and unrepentant angst? That has certainly been true in most of the black families I've witnessed-- and, it's been a truth in my own.
Mr. Brown-- who also wrote the screenplay for 'Kissed by the Devil' -- crafts a story around the above premise, allowing it to unfold within a unique set of psychological and emotional boundaries. Oakland Davenport-Hill, played with understatement and texture by Khadijah Karriem, leaves one wanting more. In an especially powerful scene, she nearly coll apes under the weight of the secret, her concern for her ailing brother and the life path she has chosen.
What is most compelling about the film is Brown's commitment to eschew sentimentality. In a genre where filmmakers are tempted to quickly descend into cliché or persistent time worn stereotypes, "Kissed by the Devil' is warm and welcome in its artistic embrace. Kudos to Mr. Brown and his crew for this achievement.