Tongues Untied
Seen it?1990 | 55 min | Documentary
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (100% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had almost no lasting buzz and soft box office. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for the curious.
- The mood
- Eye-opening.
- The pace
- Moves along nicely, at 55 min.
- What might put you off
- Nothing much for most grown-ups.
Marlon Riggs, with assistance from other gay Black men, especially poet Essex Hemphill, celebrates Black men loving Black men as a revolutionary act. The film intercuts footage of Hemphill reciting his poetry, Riggs telling the story of his growing up, scenes of men in social intercourse and dance, and various comic riffs, including a visit to the "Institute of Snap!thology," where men take lessons in how to snap their fingers: the sling snap, the point snap, the diva snap.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
100% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Reach & staying powerBelow par
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 12K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Marlon Riggs
- Marlon RiggsSelf
- Essex HemphillSelf - Poetry Performance
- Brian FreemanSelf
- Michael BellSelf
- Willi NinjaSelf
- Kerrigan BlackSelf
- BlackberriSelf
- Djola Bernard BrannerSelf
- Eddie MurphySelf (archive footage)