"Why Are There So Few Black Directors in the Criterion Collection?

[Therblig]

Originally Posted by phetaroi

I was always under the probably incorrect impression that most of the titles in the collection were older, when Black directors were few and far between. But that may be due to my purchase of mostly films from the mid-1930s through 1970 or so.

Originally Posted by Aredhel

That's probably part of it. Another part of the issue is that some notable films (from directors of all hues) Criterion can't get the rights to. But I'm sure some (probably unintentional) bias is present as well. Any curated collection depends on its curators to pick out what will be included, and everyone has biases (both conscious and unconscious). Criterion tries to be biased in favor of "good films" (as defined by auteurs and film critics as opposed to the mass market), but that certainly doesn't mean that every worthy film has been included.

I'd like to see a list of 'directors of color,' especially before, say, 1970 and 2000.

If anyone can list ten of note by 1970 and twenty by 2000, I will be somewhat surprised. The industry, for all its California locus and liberal leanings, did not integrate much sooner than the rest of the world.

My understanding is that Spike Lee was a tremendous groundbreaker in this respect... and he's still mid-career.

[Mark S.]

Originally Posted by Therblig

My understanding is that Spike Lee was a tremendous groundbreaker in this respect... and he's still mid-career.

Yes and no.

There were black filmmakers throughout the late '60s and '70s that I'd call groundbreaking. The problem is that they made movies largely to please audiences, not highbrow critics.

Which is why I don't think we'll ever see a Criterion edition of COFFY or DOLEMITE. Personally, I'd much rather watch those than most Woody Allen flicks.

[Therblig]

Originally Posted by Therblig

My understanding is that Spike Lee was a tremendous groundbreaker in this respect... and he's still mid-career.

Originally Posted by Mark S.

Yes and no.

There were black filmmakers throughout the late '60s and '70s that I'd call groundbreaking. The problem is that they made movies largely to please audiences, not highbrow critics.

In that he was the first... respected director of color? Or near it?

And yes, I have a fondness for the original blaxsploitation films, and while none was exactly Oscar-worthy, they certainly did break ground.