Songs of Black Folk
Stanley Kramer
2025, 26 mins.
“The music…became my oasis”
How refreshing in our current era of anti-woke, obliterate DEI, that a film celebrating music and those who make it comes along focussing its main event on the celebration of Juneteenth in Seattle, Washington.
Leading the pack, narrative, orchestra and chorus is Ramón Bryant Braxton, an energetic, musically gifted Black man encouraged to take piano lessons rather than suit up for football by his grandma, even as his dad spent most days in jail. Also cheering his nephew on to “staying with the music, it’s safer there” (the family motto) is the Reverend Leslie Braxton, who lives what he preaches for family and flock.
Thanks to the wisdom and vision of then President Joe Biden, Juneteenth (June 19, 1865—the day all people living in the United States, including the formerly enslaved, were officially granted freedom), came to brilliant life. To commemorate that special day, what’s the largest city in Washington state to do? Nothing better than bringing home Ramón from a successful career in the Big Apple and putting on a concert that would make his grandma beam (even as she was breathing her last), and filling the house for a performance of the ages—artistically celebrating then and now.
This production is well worth a look and a listen, even knowing that its message, tone and truthfulness can never be appreciated by those in the other Washington, intent on celebrating whiteness at the expense of all others who truly and honestly made America great before now. JWR
The Polar Passage
Renan Ozturk, Andrew Harrison Brown
2025, 25 mins.
Ode to the [temporarily] pristine passage
How extremely timely that this short doc makes its début just as the apparent “America First” president sets his greedy eye on Greenland and Canada. At the top of his shameless ambition is the Northwest Passage that has the potential to readily join our biggest oceans together for commerce, exploration and cruise ship voyeurs.
There’s only one problem: ice.
And so the camera (also Ozturk) invites viewers to join Jacob Keanikas, the savvy navigation guide, along with the determined crew of the Polar Sun and its fibreglass hull for the 112-day trek that so many others have tried and failed to complete.
Naturally, the real star of the production is the landscape/waterscape. Thankfully, still largely untouched by mankind (with just a few skeletal remains to remind one and all that this land is not their land), the gentle berms, snowcapped mountains, abundant—if cautious with these intruders—wildlife on land and the oblivious sea life happily swimming in the—so far—unpolluted “drink”, this production offers a most welcome bird’s eye view into one of the last remaining parts of the globe that precious few have ever seen, much less experienced in person.
Along the way, Mother Nature very nearly brings this voyage to a standstill, but finally (most likely reluctantly), shrugs her ice-covered shoulders and shoves this latest batch of unwanted explorers on to their final port.
A viewing is highly recommended, but let’s all hope wiser minds than those of politicians will let this magnificent passage remain as it was and is for generations to come. JWR
Astronaut in the Ocean
Keith Malloy
2025, 12 mins.
Making waves for life
Landlubbers like me will enjoy this brief portrait of Aussie Shane who would rather spend his days catching a monstrous wave on his body board than working a lowly trade. Sadly, there’s no money working a wet suit (but lots of tasty fish), so with his mantra of “work hard, play hard” the thin young man heads back into the surf as of often as possible, where, at last, he can live his own life and rise to the occasion. JWR