William Greaves' Unfinished Harlem Renaissance Documentary Completed by His Son David
By
Chris O'Falt
Crisp on the outside, thoughtful on the inside. A keeper.
Summary
William Greaves conceived a brilliant documentary project in 1972: filming a gathering of Harlem Renaissance luminaries at Duke Ellington's house using cinéma-vérité style. He considered it the best footage he'd ever shot, but never finished the film. Decades later, after Greaves' death in 2014, his son David Greaves took over directing and completed "Once Upon a Time in Harlem." David discusses his father's original vision, the challenges of finishing the project without him, and the historical significance of capturing these cultural icons together.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledHe considered it the best film he'd ever shot, his son David discusses finishing it without him.
William Greaves' concept was as brilliant as it was simple: Throw a party for all the prominent, surviving luminaries of the Harlem Renaissance at the house of jazz legend Duke Ellington, and film the gathering cinéma-vérité style with three 16mm cameras.
While in Cannes to screen the film, David came by The American Pavilion, presented by IndieWire, to talk about his father's original vision.
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