Kemba (film)

Last updated
Kemba
Kemba (film).jpg
Directed by Kelley Kali
Written by Christine Swanson
Produced by
  • Rob Pfaltzgraff
  • Stacey Parks
  • Lana Link
Starring
CinematographyRasa Partin
Edited byKristina Kromer
Music byStanley A. Smith
Production
companies
Distributed by BET+
Release date
  • February 22, 2024 (2024-02-22)
Running time
107 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Kemba is a 2024 American biographical legal drama film written by Christine Swanson and directed by Kelley Kali. The film stars Nesta Cooper, Sean Patrick Thomas and Michelle Hurd. The film based on the true story of Kemba Smith, a college student charged as a co-conspirator to her college boyfriend's drug-trafficking crimes and in 1994 was sentenced to 24.5 years in federal prison. Her case drew national attention and support from various organizations including the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund which ultimately prompted President Bill Clinton to grant her executive clemency after serving 6.5 years. She later become criminal justice advocate and public speaker. [1] Kemba Smith served as executive producer of the film. [2]

Contents

Kemba premiered at the Pan African Film Festival on February 15, 2024. [3] The film was released by BET+ on February 22, 2024. [4] [5]

Cast

Reception

Film critic Josh Bell from Crooked Marquee gave it grade "C" writing: "Prison reform activist Kemba Smith is the kind of person whose life story gets adapted into prime Oscar bait, and this BET original production doesn’t have the resources to do her justice." [6] Amari Allah from Wherever I Look gave it mixed review writing: "I feel very torn about “Kemba.” On the one hand, it highlights a modern victory for the Legal Defense Fund and why the NAACP still matters beyond a talking head commenting on the latest news headline. But at the same time, it overstays its welcome, doesn't really have moving performances, and it overall feels like a story that deserves to be told, just better than this." [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tracee Ellis Ross</span> American actress (born 1972)

Tracee Joy Silberstein, known professionally as Tracee Ellis Ross, is an American actress. She is known for her lead roles in the television series Girlfriends (2000–2008) and Black-ish (2014–2022) receiving nominations for five Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for the latter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tika Sumpter</span> American actress (born 1980)

Euphemia LatiQue"Tika" Sumpter is an American actress and producer. Sumpter began her career as the host of Best Friend's Date. From 2005 to 2010, she appeared in the daytime soap opera One Life to Live. In 2010, she made her film debut in Stomp the Yard: Homecoming and later featured in supporting roles for What's Your Number? (2011), Sparkle (2012), and A Madea Christmas (2013).

Kemba Smith Pradia is an American prison reform activist. She began a 24½ year sentence for drug-related charges in 1994, ultimately serving six years before being granted clemency by then-President Bill Clinton. Her advocacy work focuses on the intersection of mandatory minimum sentencing laws and race in America. She is the subject of a 2024 film titled "Kemba" which tells her story.

Stan Shaw is an American actor. He began his career performing on Broadway musicals Hair and Via Galactica, before making his feature film debut appearing in Truck Turner (1974). Shaw later appeared in films such as The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings (1976), Rocky (1976), The Boys in Company C (1978), The Great Santini (1979), Runaway (1984), The Monster Squad (1987), Harlem Nights (1989), Fried Green Tomatoes (1991), Rising Sun (1993), Cutthroat Island (1995), Daylight (1996) and Snake Eyes (1998).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lance Gross</span> American actor

Lance Darnell Gross is an American actor and model. He is known for his role as Calvin Payne on the TBS/BET sitcom Tyler Perry's House of Payne, for which he won four NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yara Shahidi</span> American actress and producer (born 2000)

Yara Sayeh Shahidi is an American actress and producer. She began her career as a child, appearing in the films Imagine That (2009), Butter (2011) and Alex Cross (2012).

<i>Being Mary Jane</i> American drama television series

Being Mary Jane is an American drama television series created by Mara Brock Akil and starring Gabrielle Union. It debuted on January 7, 2014, on BET. The 90-minute-pilot for the series aired on July 2, 2013. The series follows the professional and personal life of successful TV news anchor Mary Jane Paul, who lived in Atlanta and New York City. The series concluded on April 23, 2019.

The 46th NAACP Image Awards, presented by the NAACP, honored outstanding representations and achievements of people of color in motion pictures, television, music and literature during the 2014 calendar year. The 46th ceremony was hosted by Anthony Anderson and broadcast on TV One.

The 44th NAACP Image Awards ceremony, presented by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), honored the best in film, television, recording, and literature of 2012. The ceremony took place on February 1, 2013, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, aired live on NBC and was hosted by Steve Harvey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crissle West</span> American writer and comedian

Crissle West is an American writer and comedian. She is best known as the co-host of the pop culture podcast The Read. She has starred in episodes of Drunk History, on which she has told the story of Harriet Tubman's work as a Union spy during the Civil War, as well as Marsha P. Johnson and the Stonewall riot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marsai Martin</span> American actress (born 2004)

Caila Marsai Martin is an American actress and producer, best known for her role as Diane Johnson on the ABC sitcom Black-ish (2014–2022).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damson Idris</span> British actor (born 1991)

Damson Alade-Bo Idris is an English actor. He is best known for starring on John Singleton's crime drama Snowfall, which debuted 5 July 2017 on FX and ended in 2023 after six seasons. He played the co-lead in Netflix's 2021 sci-fi action film Outside the Wire.

<i>Tales</i> (TV series) Anthology television series

Tales is an American anthology television series created by Irv Gotti. The series premiered on BET on June 27, 2017. It was renewed for a second season, which premiered on July 2, 2019. In March 2021, BET renewed the series for a third season, which premiered on August 9, 2022.

<i>The Miracle Season</i> 2018 American film directed by Sean McNamara

The Miracle Season is a 2018 American biographical sports drama film directed by Sean McNamara and starring Erin Moriarty, Helen Hunt, William Hurt, and Danika Yarosh. The film is based on the true story of the Iowa City West High School volleyball team after the sudden death of the team's heart and leader, Caroline Found, in 2011. It was released in the United States on April 6, 2018. The film received mixed reviews from critics and has grossed $10 million worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelley Kali</span> American director, actor, writer, and producer

Kelley Kali is an American director, actor, writer, and producer. She is the creator of the 2021 indie film I'm Fine , which has won several awards in the film festival circuit. Other directing credits include Lalo's House (2018), Kemba (2022), and Jagged Mind (2023).

<i>Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story</i> 2022 American film

Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story is an American biographical musical drama film directed by Denise Dowse and written by Ericka Nicole Malone. The film stars Ledisi as gospel singer and activist Mahalia Jackson. Also starring Columbus Short, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Janet Hubert, Vanessa Williams, Corbin Bleu and Keith David. It premiered at the 2022 Pan African Film & Arts Festival in Los Angeles in April 2022. The film later premiered on Hulu on September 20, 2022.

<i>First Lady of BMF: The Tonesa Welch Story</i> Biographical film by Vivica A. Fox

First Lady of BMF: The Tonesa Welch Story is an American biographical crime drama film written by Gabrielle Collins and Tressa Azarel Smallwood and directed by Vivica A. Fox. The film stars Michelle Mitchenor as Tonesa Welch. The film follows Welch's rise from a teenager's mother to a drug dealer in Detroit, referred as "First Lady" of the notorious Black Mafia Family. The film also starring Tobias Truvillion, Leon, Jessica "Jess Hilarious" Moore, Faith Malonte, Tristan Fazekas and Kellie Shanygne Williams, while Tonesa Welch make a cameo appearance.

<i>The Reading</i> (film) 2023 film by Courtney Glaude

The Reading is a 2023 American supernatural horror-thriller film written and directed by Courtney Glaude in his feature directorial debut. The film stars Mo'Nique as a recently widowed writer Emma Leeden, who details the loss of her family in her new book Invasion. For the press coverage, she agrees to a staged reading by 19-year-old girl who has spiritual connection. The Reading executive produced by Lee Daniels with Mo'Nique and her husband, Sidney Hicks. It the first time Mo'Nique and Daniels have collaborated on a project after 2009 drama film, Precious. The collaborations of this film ended a 14-year feud between Daniels and Mo'Nique.

Christine Swanson is an American film and television director and screenwriter.

References

  1. Entertainment, TheGrio (February 21, 2024). "Watch: New film tells the story of criminal justice advocate Kemba Smith". TheGrio.
  2. Grobar, Matt (September 16, 2022). "Nesta Cooper To Star In Drama 'Kemba' From MPI & BET; Kelley Kali Directing".
  3. https://www.paff.org/files/2024_PAFF_Screening_Schedule.pdf
  4. Mangum, Trey. "'Kemba' Trailer: Kelley Kali Directs BET+ Film Starring Nesta Cooper, Michelle Hurd, Sean Patrick Thomas And Siddiq Saunderson - Blavity". Blavity News & Entertainment.
  5. Canada, Danielle (January 30, 2024). "'KEMBA': BET+ Film Follows The True Story Of An Innocent Student Sentenced To 24 1/2 Years Over Her Boyfriend's Drug Dealing".
  6. Bell, Josh (February 20, 2024). "VODepths: What to See (and Avoid) on Demand This Week".
  7. Allah, Amari (February 22, 2024). "Kemba – Movie Review And Summary". wherever-i-look.com.