Film / News
Prince plays the Colston Hall (kind of)
Prepare to party like it’s 1999 as the late little purple fella known as Prince is celebrated with a screening of Purple Rain alongside the ‘Jam of the Year’ at the Colston Hall on Sunday 13 November. It’s the centrepiece of Bristol’s contribution to BFI Black Star, which is billed as “the UK’s biggest ever season of film and television dedicated to celebrating the range, versatility and power of black actors”. Locally, there’s an extensive film screening season at the Watershed from late October onwards, as well as a Black Comedy House Party at the Trinity Centre.
The Purple Rain evening kicks off at 6pm with Alex Penfold and band, dance group Funk Supreme, and various guests. Purple Rain the film is shown on a particularly huge screen at 7pm. Then there’s an after-party with Norman Jay MBE. Advance tickets are available here.
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BFI Black Star launches in Bristol on Friday 21 October with a screening of Dreamgirls at the Watershed, followed by the Soul Sister No.1 after-party. This also kicks off an eclectic season of black music biopics under the banner Stars Become Stars. Next up are Clint Eastwood’s Charlie Parker film Bird (Oct 28), Straight Outta Compton (Nov 4), Tina: What’s Love Got to Do With It (Nov 18) and Jimi: All is By My Side (Nov 25). Each screening is accompanied by an event, ranging from live music to DJ sets.
Black Lives on Film (Oct 22) comprises a diverse showcase of short films, including one featuring Bristolian Skins star Laya Lewis, followed by a panel discussion about the representation of black culture on film. The following morning (Oct 23), there’s an opportunity to see 34-year-old Diana Ross playing 11-year-old Dorothy in The Wiz – aka the Motown reworking of The Wizard of Oz. Should this get you in the mood for shaking your booty right on down to the ground, it’s followed by an authentic disco for children and families.
Other films being screened in the Black Star season include Jackie Brown, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, To Sir with Love, The Color Purple, Blue Collar, In the Heat of the Night and, in its 25th anniversary year, John Singleton’s Boyz N the Hood. Some screening dates and times are still being confirmed.
One-off events include The Fabulous Nicholas Brothers on Wednesday 2 November, in which Bruce Goldstein presents a compilation tribute to self-taught African-American entertainers Fayard (1914-2006) and Harold (1921-2000) Nicholas, who became one of the biggest musical acts of their time.
Over at the Trinity Centre on December 4 & 5, the Black Comedy House Party comprises screenings of I’m Gonna Git You Sucka, Car Wash and Coming to America, prior to ’90s-themed music nights.
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