The Last Black Man in San Francisco (2019)

Exciting debut films from promising directors seem to come a lot more often these days, perhaps as film making becomes a more accessible medium. The latest is The Last Black Man in San Francisco, a beautifully shot sentimental film from first time film makers Joe Talbot and Jimmie Fails. Shot for very little but accomplishing so much, The Last Black Man in San Francisco is an great example of the idea that new film makers can get their visions made and we get to experience them as an audience.

Fails plays a fictionalized version of himself, a man attempting to reclaim the home his grandfather built, facing all the barriers, large ones and small ones, a black man in modern America faces. Talbot films his story with an invested eye, truly capturing the big and small moments in a way that shows a deeply insightful understanding of what this story means.

It is a delicious film to watch. A little garish (in all the best ways) while completely lush, The Last Black Man is a shows both as rough but ready to take on the task of making great films. If The Last Black Man in San Francisco is any indication, they are headed for some great things.

The Last Black Man in San Francisco
Starring: Jimmie Fails, Jonathan Majors, Danny Glover, Tichina Arnold, Mike Epps, Thora Birch
Director: Joe Talbot
Writers: Rob Richert, Joe Talbot