The last neorealist film to emerge from the L.A. Rebellion, Bless Their Hearts portrays the effects of underemployment on both a single family and the whole community. Originally written by Charles Burnett, who had first encouraged Woodberry to make a feature film and had introduced him to the cast of Killer of Sheep, the material was subsequently developed by Woodberry. Bless Their Hearts is a beautiful collaboration, exemplary of the mentorship that enabled UCLA’s Ethno-Communications program to flourish.

Preservation funded by the National Film Preservation Foundation and the Packard Humanities Institute.

SCREENS WITH:

The Pocketbook
(Billy Woodberry, USA, 1980, 35mm, 13 min)
A boy’s plan to mug a woman walking alone at night is unexpectedly foiled, leading him to reconsider his actions. Based on Langston Hughes’ short story “Thank You, Ma’am,” Billy Woodberry’s second film also features the music of Miles Davis, Leadbelly and Thelonious Monk.

Preservation funded in part by a grant from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.

Tonight’s program is part of our month-long series L.A. Rebellion. Read More >>

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