Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart

Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart is a phenomenal and intricately crafted biographical documentary that brings to life the gripping story of a pioneering figure in American literature and social politics, Lorraine Hansberry. The film provides a magnifying lens to capture the life and times of Hansberry, the remarkable intellect behind what is considered the first drama by an African American woman to be produced on Broadway, "A Raisin in the Sun." Directed by Tracy Heather Strain, this enriching documentary is voiced by the Tony Award-winning actress Anika Noni Rose with glimpses of in-depth interviews with the versatile actress LaTanya Richardson Jackson.

Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart is set in the challenging era of the mid-twentieth century marked by racial segregation and gender bias. These societal conditions create the gritty backdrop against which the life of Hansberry unfolds. The film smartly plots the trajectory of her life - from her early days in Chicago's South Side neighborhood to her meteoric rise as a radical intellectual and a forward-thinking playwright in New York. The film beautifully captures her monumental achievements, but it also does not shy away from showcasing the ample struggles and enormous obstacles that she faced due to her identity as a black woman in a racially divisive society.

Anika Noni Rose acts as the voice of Hansberry in this documentary, telling us her story predominantly through the use of Hansberry's own writings. The result is a visceral depiction of Hansberry's grit, perseverance, intellect, and humanness, which sparks a series of deep insights into the psyche of this genius. The emotive narration by Rose gives a hauntingly personal touch to the storytelling, adding a certain depth that engraves the essence of Hansberry's life on the viewer's mind.

LaTanya Richardson Jackson like a fine weaver, strings together the disparate threads of testimony and observation by those who knew and worked with Hansberry. These intriguing personal anecdotes provide a multi-dimensional view of Hansberry that is both intimate and honest, revealing a woman of great strength, conviction, and exceptional talent.

The film also meticulously explores Hansberry's journey as a civil rights activist, her close friendship with noted figures like James Baldwin, her less-known yet significant contributions to feminist thought, and her personal identification as a lesbian. It paints an unflinching and comprehensive portrait of a woman who, in every sense, was much more than the author of one of American theater's most iconic plays.

Another noteworthy attribute of Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart is its clever use of archival footage. Director Tracy Heather Strain skillfully integrates a collection of historical clips, including interviews, speeches, and performances, to weave the narrative seamlessly. Through such visual treatments, the viewers are transported back in time, an audience to Hansberry’s life as it transpired.

The film does not just document Hansberry’s personal life but also delves into her valuable contributions to literature and the civil rights movement. It throws light on how her works transcended the realm of art to become impactful tools of social discourse. The profound vision in Hansberry’s writings, fueled by her firsthand experiences of racial tension and her involvement in civil rights activism, is aptly underlined in the film.

In Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart, the viewers experience a biographical masterpiece, narrating the life of a woman who tirelessly fought against societal odds on multiple fronts. It is a tribute to the resilience of the human spirit and a celebration of an undeterred mind. The cinematic beauty of the film is elevated by Rose's compelling narration and Jackson's detailed reminiscences, enlightening the viewers about a valiant writer-activist who championed the cause of equality.

Hansberry's life, as detailed in the documentary, serves as an inspiring testament of how art and activism can intertwine to become potent instruments of change. A movie riveting in its content and visually beautiful in its execution, Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart is not just a must-watch but a must-experience for all who believe in the transformative power of literature and the unbroken spirit of fighters for equality and justice.