It's on!  Author of the the superb compendium Blaxploitation Cinema: The Essential Reference Guide Josiah Howard (who also curated all the chosen films for this midweek) will be in our cinema house to introduce & do a post screening discussion!  Welcome to BLAXPLOITATION MIDWEEK!

DOUBLE FEATURED (2-MOVIES-FOR-THE PRICE-OF-ONE, SEE ONE OR BOTH FOR THE SAME PRICE!) WITH THE UNDER PLAYED 70'S GEM TOP OF THE HEAP (1972)!

The film follows Dan Freeman (played by Lawrence Cook), an African American man who becomes the first black CIA officer. His hiring is initially a token gesture to placate civil rights activists and project an image of inclusivity within the agency. However, Freeman proves to be highly competent, quickly mastering espionage techniques and tactics. Despite his skills, he is relegated to a low-profile, menial position, symbolically seated by the door to serve as a token black employee. Growing increasingly disillusioned with the systemic racism and marginalization he experiences, Freeman decides to use his training for a revolutionary cause. He resigns from the CIA and returns to his hometown of Chicago, where he begins to recruit and train a militant group of young African Americans. Utilizing the guerrilla warfare techniques he learned at the CIA, Freeman's group, disguised as a community organization, aims to fight against racial oppression and challenge the status quo. As Freeman's insurgency grows, it attracts the attention of law enforcement and government officials, leading to a tense and escalating conflict. The film explores themes of racial identity, institutional racism, and the complexities of resistance. "The Spook Who Sat By the Door" is a powerful and thought-provoking film that examines the potential for radical change and the lengths to which oppressed individuals might go to achieve liberation. It remains a significant work for its bold portrayal of racial and political issues, and its critique of both governmental and societal structures.

"One of the few uncompromised representations of black armed resistance in the United States." - Cynthia Fuchs, PopMatters

"Possibly the most radical of the blaxploitation films of the 70s, this movie was an overnight success when released in 1973, then was abruptly taken out of distribution for reasons still not entirely clear." - Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader.