Malcolm X (1992)

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Malcolm X was screened on November 18, 1992, in the USA. The American drama film was produced by Largo International N.V., JVC Entertainment Networks, and 40 Acres & A Mule. The movie storyline was written and directed by Spike Lee. The movie was based on his biography and the book that was created by himself in fighting for equalities for all races, especially for African Americans. The movie actually was running out of budget. Warner Bros. offers him 20 million USD and Lagor with 8 million USD for a foreign license. However he still needs 5 million, so, Spike Lee raised funds from his celebrity friends such as Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, and Bill Cosby. After a positive reaction from the public, Warner Bros finally puts more funds into the movie.[1]

Plot

The biographical saga of the prominent Black Nationalist leader, Malcolm X, from born as Malcolm Little became a gangster. Then, he goes to jail and discovered the Nation of Islam writings of Elijah Muhammad. He teaches the teachings of Islam when gets out of jail. Later on, he goes on a pilgrimage to the city of Mecca, where he converts to the original Islamic religion and becomes a Sunni Muslim. He decides to change his name from Malcolm to El-Hajj Malik Al-Shabazz. He does lots of campaigns as a member of the Nation of Islam and the African American community. In the end, he is assassinated on February 21, 1965, and dies a Muslim martyr.

Denzel Washington as Malcolm X. Photograph: Allstar/Cinetext/Warner Bros[2]

Black Empowerment

The movie depicts how Malcolm X fights for African American people. It can be seen even at the beginning of the film where he states he charges the white man as the greatest assassin and the greatest abductor on earth. While each of 22 million black American people is the victims of America as the American flag was burnt to ashes. At the end of the movie, Nelson Mandela is featured when he was just got released, showing a sign of hope where African Americans can have the same rights as other races[3].

References