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Heavy D's animated alterego

in the forthcoming "People"

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(prices for VHS unless noted otherwise)

New Additions:

The Falashas (1973)

A decade before Operations Moses and Solomon brought the persecuted Jews of Ethiopia to Israel, filmmaker Meyer Levin made this classic study of the daily life and worship of a nearly forgotten people.
27 min., Color, $29.95

Jit (1990)

A scooter tour of Harare, Zimbabwe, set to the indigenous Jit music, with a youngster driven to earn $500 and a gramaphone, and the hand of the lady he loves.
92 min., Color, new low price: $29.95

Tilai (1990)

Idrissa Ouedraogo's "The Law" is a haunting tale of forbidden love, honor and revenge, as a young man steals his father's new wife and flees with her into the unknown. It won the Grand Jury Prize at Cannes.
81 min., color, in Moore with enhanced English subtitles, $79.95

For Children

God’s Trombones
A trilogy of African-American poems, fleshed out in elegant clay animation; family tales written by James Weldon Johnson; Including "The Creation," narrated by James Earl Jones. "The Prodigal Son" and "Go Down Death" narrated by Dorian Harewood.< BR>Featurette, $24.95

Happily Ever After Tales For Every Child!
A new spin on the world’s most cherished tales! Fully animated home videos with an ethnic twist, featuring a galaxy of stellar voice talents, including Harry Belafonte, Danny Glover, Cheech Marin, Rosie Perez, Denzel Washington, B. D. Wong and ser ies narrator Robert Guillaume. As seen on HBO.

Appx. 1/2 hr., Color, $9.98 each
Cinderella
Emperor’s New Clothes, The
Frog Prince, The
Rapunzel
Hansel and Gretel
Jack and The Beanstalk
Little Red Riding Hood
Rumpelstiltskin

People
10 original songs by original artists hightlight this celebration of the international human universe, researched for accuracy of presentation by a panel of experts of all ages. A whole panoply of animation techniques are applied by Klassika Studio in Mo scow. Me'shell Ndegelocello, Chaka, Peabo, Al Jarreau, Vanessa Williams, and Grover Washington Jr. are just some of the names involved in this one-hour special, based on the multimillion-seller book of the same name..
Coming in time for the UN' s 50th Anniversary.

Sing Along with Binyah Binyah
Visit Gullah Gullah Island! Hosts Ron, Natalie and Binyah Polliwog will have preschoolers singing, dancing and playing along. This is from one of Nick Jr.’s top rated shows, and includes 11 favorite songs plus a special story on video only.
30 minutes, Color, $12.98

Rediscovered Classics

The Negro Soldier (1944)
A documentary with a dramatic framing scene by Frank Capra, which opens with a preacher reading the anti-black passages from the Nazi bible Mein Kamph to his assembled congregation. This film was produced to demonstrate to black troops their stake in the fight against the Axis Powers, and has all the typical Capra sentiment. Yet the finely preserved footage sheds light upon an extremely valuable participation, from the days of Crispus Attucks to WWII, so often overlooked in the history boo ks. Notable for its unusual details, and especially the footage from Hitler's Olympics: Not only do you see Jesse Owens win his famous race, you see another black man coming up second just a pace behind him, with all the others way behind! And if that isn't enough, you see the winner of the pole-vaulting competition -- yet another black guy! The only thing missing is the look on Hitler's face!
45 min., B&W, Only $9.95

Nothing But A Man (1964)
A powerful drama about the relationship of an African American couple set in the South of the early 1960’s. It is now regonized as one of the most important films about race relations made in America. This thought-provoking film stars Ivan Dixon (Hogan’s Heroes, A Raisin In The Sun, A Patch Of Blue) with Abbey Lincoln as his wife, and smaller roles filled by Esther Rolle and Moses Gunn. The soundtrack includes Motown legends Stevie Wonder, The Miracles, and Martha Reeves and The Vandellas .
92 min., B/W, VHS: $19.99; CLV Laser: $39.99

Jazz Cleopatra

Zou Zou (1934)
Starring Josephine Baker. Conceived as a vehicle for Ms. Baker, Zou Zou was her debut talking film and a huge hit in her adopted France. The film places Baker in several lavish production numbers, in which she is sumptuously dressed and su pported by a large chorus. It is the poignant rendition of "Haiti" that remains indelible. Seated on a swing in an oversize birdcage, she sings of her Caribbean home. This film leaves a permanent record of her unique style and powerful charisma.
92 min., B/W, $29.99

Princess Tam Tam (1935)
Starring Josephine Baker -- the performer, WWII heroine and civil rights activist honored by France with a full state funeral. A French author goes to North Africa to write a novel. Instead he become entranced by a girl whom he transforms into a "Princess." (Guess who?)
80 min., B/W, $29.99

Musical Transformations

Baraka
Baraka is an ancient Sufi word with forms in many languages, translates as a blessing, or as the breath of essence of life. Epic filmmaking in which an unfolding story and awareness through images, sound and music speak directly to the soul and mind of t he viewer. Egypt, Kenya and Tanzania are just a few of the stops on a transcendentally poetic tour of the globe in 70 mm, in the tradition of Koyaanisqatsi.
92 min., Color, Hi-fi Stereo, $29.98 on VHS, Letterboxed Laser $39.98

Jazz on a Summer's Day (1958)
The '58 Newport Jazz Fest proved to be the intersection of American pop music forms, with their definitive performers each captured at the peak of their abilities: Chuck Berry rocks, Mahalia Jackson thrills, Louis Armstrong blows hi s horn -- plus Thelonious Monk and a host of other greats.
84 min., Color, $59.95 on video only

Mizike Mama (1992)
Zap Mama on film! This documentary is a group portrait of Zap Mama, a dazzling a cappella quintet of mixed Zairain and Belgian descent that recorded its first album on David Byrne's "Luaka Bop" label; and who controlled the World Music char ts in the US for an incredible 11 weeks.
51 min., Color, in French and English and African Dialects, $39.99

Stepping Razor Red X: The Peter Tosh Story (1992)
Uncover the real Peter Tosh! Not just a regge artist but a Rasta visionary, revolutionary, and Jamaican folk hero. Packed with rare concert footage, interviews, narration by Tosh from his personal taped diaries (The Red X Tapes). This doc umentary traces Tosh from the slums of Kingston to international superstardom, and probes the unanswered questions concerning his brutal murder.
Short Feature, Color, $29.95

Voices of Sarafina! (1989)
The original documentary interweaves scenes from Broaways hit musical Sarafina!, and intimate interviews with members of the South African cast and Miriam Makeba, along with images of townships in their homeland. A record of the triumphant resista nce movement by Nigel Noble, winner of the Silver Flame at the Amnesty International Film Festival.
85 min., Color, in English, $39.95 on video only

Langston Hughes

Voices & Visions, Vol. 3, No. 1
The blues, jazz and spirituals echo in the rhythmic lines of Langston Hughes (1902-1967). One of the most influential and prolific Black American writers of the century, he was actively involved in the black artistic and political movements if his time. This film includes Hughes reading from his works and scenes of his travels in Africa, Europe, Russia and the US. Commentary by James Baldwin. A 1995 release.
60 min., $19.95

The Colonial World

Chocolat (1988)
An autobiographical period piece by Wenders protegee Claire Denis, set in the French West of Cameroon. A little white girl has to deal with the disturbing undercurrents of her relationship with her caretaker, a black servant. Best scenes: ant sa ndwich; the boiler pipe.
105 min., Color, Rated PG-13, French with English Subtitles, $19.99

The Kitchen Toto (1987)
Harry Hook's debut film, about Kenya's dispatch of the British in the mid-50s. A kikuyu working in a policeman's house watches the political drama unfold, in the wake of his father's death at the hands of terrorists.
97 min., Color,Rated PG-13, $19.99

The Last Supper (1978)
Tomas Gutierrez Alea's sardonic restaging of a true story from 18th Century Cuba. A pious but hypocritical slaveowner decides the way to save his soul would be to re-enact The Last Supper with his slaves. Little does he realize when he begins his tour-de-force, that he will only find himself in an sustained existential argument with his captives! Bizarre and disturbing: truth wearing the head of a lie.
110 min., Color, Spanish with English Subtitles, $69.95 on video only

New Jack Cinema: Out Now

Higher Learning (1995)
Some claimed John Singleton bit off more than he could chew with this study of an entire California college class molded to reflect the social forces in America right now, but WBAI Public Radio loved it. A diverse group of incoming freshman get a crash course in diversity, identity and sexuality in this explosive look at university living. Starring Kristy Swanson, Omar Epps, Michael Rapaport, Ice Cube and Laurence Fishburne as John Houseman without the attitude problem. Watch him with that paper bag!
126 min., Color, Rated R, $97.99 on video; Laser: $39.99

The Walking Dead (1995)
Joe Morton stars as the leader of a black company on duty in 'Nam. They believe they're on a rescue mission until they realize they've been left as decoys. Action flick crossed with political commentary: a volatile mix.
90 min., Color, $96.99

New Rental Titles

Faces Of Women/Visages de Femmes (1985)
The Ivory Coast's Desire Ecare combines comedy and pulsating music with intriguing tales of today’s Africa. Vibrant scenes of dancing crowds form the unifying dramatic linkage for thes e stories of women trying to balance the demands of tradition with modern life. Twelve years in the making! A bedazzled Time Out critic exclaimed, "an extremely naked scene of seduction in and around a river lays a hundred puritan ghosts."
103 min., Color, in Indigenous Languages and French with English Subtitles, $79.99 on video only

Sugar Cane Alley (1983)
Another award-winning drama from Euzhan Palcy, who directed A Dry White Season. On a sugar cane plantation in Martinque live Jose, a bright mischevious 11 year old boy, and his grandmother, a tough and wise woman determined to save him from the hard life she has known. When Jose wins a scholarship, she is ready to sacrifice everything for his chance at an education. Some scenes of violence make this an important film for older children. Five stars from Martin & Porter.
107 min., Color, French With Yellow Subtitles, $79.99 on video only

Carlos Digues

Quilombo (1984)
From the director of Bye Bye Brazil comes this stirring fusion of folklore, political impact, and dynamic story-telling, set to the pulsing beat of Gilberto Gil’s inspiring musical score. The films tells of the self-governing communities known as quilombos, formed by runaway black slaves in Brazil, focusing on the most famous and longlasting of all -- led by the legendary Ganga Zumba.
114 min., Color, Portuguese with enhanced English Subtitles, $79.95 on video only

XICA (1978)
Wild humor based on the life of a legendary black woman whom Diegues calls "Brazil’s Joan of Arc. Sort of." During the diamond rush of the 1700s Xica uses her iron will and her unique sexual talent to seduce her way into becoming the unofficial Empre ss of Brazil. Starring Zeze Motta -- a combination of Eartha Kitt and Carmen Miranda.
109 min., Color, Portuguese with Yellow English Subtitles, $79.95 on video only

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