12 January 2009

the greatest film ever derailed

from the afropolitan blog


DROITS RÉSERVÉS - COPYRIGHT Michel CORBOZ]

So apparently Danny Glover (who is enjoying a post-Die Hard career as an international activist) was making a film on Toussaint Louverture, who was basically a liberator of Haiti and is viewed as one of the great black historical figures. However, the whole project was derailed after he was unable to secure financing from any Hollywood executives.

I'm pretty bummed about this, b/c I love his life story and think it would make an excellent biopic. Why is it hollywood can fund biopics about African American Gangasters, sports figures and musicians but not politicians, activists, leaders? I guess Malcolm X is as far as they went.

Given the success of films like The Pursuit of Happinyness which was a positive story of a black man *gasp* why not fund a film about someone who changed the course of history, i.e. the abolishment of slavery in the Americas?

from his wiki page:

"Toussaint Louverture played a key role in what was the first successful attempt by a slave population in the Americas to throw off the yoke of Western colonialism. He defeated armies of three imperial powers: Spain, France, and Great Britain. The success of the Haitian Revolution had enduring effects on shaking the institution of slavery throughout the New World. "

Go figure. If I was a millionaire Danny, I'd fund the film (the budget is $30 mil)

By the way, look at who was cast to play in the film! :

Wesley Snipes, Angela Bassett, Don Cheadle, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Roger Guenveur Smith, Mos Def, Isaach De Bankolé, and Richard Bohringer

For those of you who understand French, here's a mini doc on youtube on Louverture:

P

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