Mikes Film Talk

Paul Laurence Dunbar, an American poet, is presented in this short film by a woman. She is dressed like a man but is clearly female. Does this take away from the poetry in this movie? it does not.

A. Slate is brilliant as the poet who refuses to doff his hat during a stage show on the 4th of July. Timothy J Cox is spot on as the mayor who is almost outraged at the thought of wearing a hat during the National Anthem.

the setting

Kane Stratton (Caesar: An American Maroon) not only scribed the film, he directed it. He sets the story’s setting to take place 40 years after the proclamation of emancipation. Abraham Lincoln issued this edict and American society was slow to accept this new future. The poet is making a statement with his refusal to part with his hat just because society demands it.

Paul Laurence Dunbar was, apparently, a man who challenged paradigms set by his fellow citizens. The American poet stood up for personal freedom, something that former slaves were yet to really obtain.

the poet

Slate, as Dunbar, quotes his, poem “Sympathy” and it resonates clearly, like a bell ringing. This is the most moving scene in the short tribute to an American poet who lived the truth of slavery from his parents.

Paul Laurence Dunbar: An American Poet, is filmed as a stage play. *The set was one of stage manufacture, the front wall moved ever so slightly when Fitzgerald opened and closed it. Once again we ask, does this affect the film? The short answer is no, it does not*

The message

It would be easy to take this tale as an addendum, or nod, to the “take a knee” movement. Colin Kaepernick ,a 49ers quarterback. is responsible for this gesture of protest. This was a statement about the then President and his policies.

Laurence may, or may not, be setting a precedent about his dissatisfaction with the snails pace acceptance by the American people. The poet is clearly a scribe with strong principles.

All the rest

This short film delivers. It does beg the question, however, about why a woman was chosen to play the American Poet. There is also the question of gender identification. A movement that was still in its infancy in 2021. We are talking about acting here and , in direct correlation, theatre. There is a splendid tradition of having men play women and vice versa.

Paul Laurence Dunbar: American Poet may raise a few questions but these queries take nothing from the movie here. Just the chance to hear “Sympathy” quoted aloud makes this a journey worth taking.

A solid 4 star effort. It plays brilliantly and sends a message worth remembering. Well done.