Through A Lens Darkly

''Through a Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People'' is a 2014 documentary film directed by Thomas Allen Harris. It is inspired by ''Reflections in Black: A History of Black Photographers 1840 to the Present'' by Deborah Willis, who also produced the film. The film had its premiere at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival on January 17, 2014.

The film later screened at 64th Berlin International Film Festival in February 2014. The film also screened at 2014 Santa Barbara International Film Festival on 5 February 2014. It won the ''Justice Award'' at the festival. The film had a theatrical release on August 27, 2014 in United States.

Synopsis

The first documentary to explore the role of photography in shaping the identity, aspirations, and social emergence of African Americans from slavery to the present, ''Through a Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People'' probes the recesses of American history through images that have been suppressed, forgotten, and lost.

Reception

The film received generally positive reviews from critics. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 61% of 18 film critics have given the film a positive review.

Zeba Blay in her review for ''Indiewire'' said that "It shows us the disturbing lynch photographs and minstrel illustrations in all their startling, horrific detail. But it also counterbalances them with countless photos of black people by black people, pictures from family albums all the way to the professional work of some of the most seminal black photographers in America. There’s an understanding that the lynch photos, the regal pictures of Booker T. Washington and Sojourner Truth, the images of Carrie Mae Weems staring straight into the camera in her Kitchen Table Series, all lie on a continuum. They’re happening now. And its through these images we’re privy to a secret history of the black photographer and the black subject, a history reaching far back into the past and shining a light on those who paved the way for everyone, all of us, to affirm our own identities through the images we take of ourselves and each other." Dennis Harvey of ''Variety'' gave the film a positive review by saying that, "Though a tad uneven, as a whole the documentary cannily juggles an overview of African-American history in general with the specifics of its photographic representation and talents."

''AnOther Magazine'' added it in their "15 Fascinating Art Documentaries to Watch Now." (2020)

''Bustle'' added it in their "22 Films & Shows To Get Creative Juices Flowing." (2016)

''FlavorWire'' added it in their "50 Essential African-American Independent Films." (2015)

''MSNBC'' added it in their "Celebrating black history: Music and movie syllabus."(2015)

''The Huffington Post'' added it in their "10 must see films at (2014) Sundance."

''IndieWire'' added it in their "14 LGBT Films To Look Out For At The 2014 Sundance Film Festival."

Accolades

See also

*List of black films of the 2010s

References

External links

Through A Lens Darkly - Official website

Digital Diaspora Roadshow - A Companion Transmedia Project
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Through a Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People
2014 films
American documentary films
2014 documentary films
Documentary films about African Americans
African-American films
Best Diaspora Documentary Africa Movie Academy Award winners
Documentary films about photographers
African-American art
Films directed by Thomas Allen Harris
Photography in the United States
2010s English-language films
2010s American films