Stamped from the Beginning (film)

Last updated
Stamped from the Beginning
Stamped from the Beginning (film).jpg
Directed by Roger Ross Williams
Written byDavid Teague
Produced by
  • Roger Ross Williams
  • David Teague
  • Alisa Payne
CinematographyWolfgang Held
Edited by
  • John Fisher
  • Francesca Sharper
Music by
Production
company
  • One Story Up
Distributed by Netflix
Release dates
  • September 9, 2023 (2023-09-09)(TIFF)
  • November 10, 2023 (2023-11-10)
Running time
85 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Stamped from the Beginning is an 2023 American documentary film, directed and produced by Roger Ross Williams. It is based upon the non-fiction book of the same name by Ibram X. Kendi.

Contents

It had its world premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2023, and was released in a limited release on November 10, 2023, prior to streaming on Netflix on November 20, 2023.

Premise

Based on the non-fiction book of the same name by Ibram X. Kendi, the film explores racist tropes and imagery that were developed and enshrined in American culture throughout history.

Participants

Kendi, Angela Davis, Autumn Womack, Brittany Packnett Cunningham, Brittney Cooper, Carol Anderson, Dorothy Roberts, Elizabeth Hinton, Honorée Jeffers, Imani Perry, Jennifer L. Morgan, Kellie Carter-Jackson, Lynae Vanee, Ruha Benjamin and Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers appear in the film. [1]

Production

In June 2021, it was announced Netflix had acquired the rights to Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi, with Roger Ross Williams set to direct and produce a documentary based upon the book. [2]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2023, where it received a 5-minute ovation. [3] [4] It was given a limited release on November 10, 2023, prior to streaming on Netflix on November 20, 2023. [5] [6]

Reception

The documentary has received universal acclaim from critics. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 100% of 27 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8/10.The website's consensus reads: "Looking pointedly to the past in an effort to help illuminate the present, Stamped from the Beginning is an outstanding documentary achievement." [7]

Related Research Articles

<i>Eds Next Move</i> 1996 American film

Ed's Next Move is a 1996 American romantic comedy film written and directed by John Walsh. It stars Matt Ross, Callie Thorne, and Kevin Carroll. A micro-budget film about a transplanted Midwesterner adapting to life in New York's East Village, the film appeared at the 1996 Sundance Film Festival where it received critical praise and was picked up by Orion Classics for theatrical release.

<i>Blue Jay</i> (film) 2016 American film

Blue Jay is a 2016 American romantic drama film directed by Alex Lehmann in his fictional feature debut, from a screenplay by Mark Duplass. It stars Duplass and Sarah Paulson. The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 12, 2016.

<i>Life, Animated</i> 2016 American documentary film by Roger Ross Williams

Life, Animated is a 2016 American documentary by director Roger Ross Williams. It is co-produced by Williams with Julie Goldman, Carolyn Hepburn and Christopher Clements. Life, Animated is based on journalist Ron Suskind's 2014 book Life, Animated: A Story of Sidekicks, Heroes, and Autism, which tells the story of his son, Owen Suskind, who struggled with autism and learned how to communicate with the outside world through his love of Disney films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ibram X. Kendi</span> American academic (born 1982)

Ibram Xolani Kendi is an American author, professor, anti-racist activist, and historian of race and discriminatory policy in America. In July 2020, he founded the Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University where he serves as director. Kendi was included in Time's 100 Most Influential People of 2020. Kendi has attracted criticism for his alleged financial mismanagement of the Center for Antiracist Research.

<i>Long Time Running</i> 2017 Canadian film directed by Jennifer Baichwal and Nicholas de Pencier

Long Time Running is a Canadian documentary film, directed by Jennifer Baichwal and Nicholas de Pencier. The film profiles the Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip during their Man Machine Poem Tour of 2016, which followed the band's announcement of lead singer Gord Downie's cancer diagnosis.

<i>Stamped from the Beginning</i> Book by Ibram X. Kendi

Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America is a non-fiction book about race in the United States by the American historian Ibram X. Kendi, published April 12, 2016 by Bold Type Books, an imprint of PublicAffairs. The book won the National Book Award for Nonfiction.

<i>Wild Wild Country</i> 2018 documentary series

Wild Wild Country is a Netflix documentary series about the controversial Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (Osho), his one-time personal assistant Ma Anand Sheela, and their community of followers in the Rajneeshpuram community located in Wasco County, Oregon, US. It was released on Netflix on March 16, 2018, after premiering at the Sundance Film Festival. The title of the series is drawn from the Bill Callahan song "Drover", which features prominently in the final episode, and it also echoes the comments of Jane Stork about first seeing the ranch, shown at the beginning of episode 2: "it was just so wild, so rugged, but vast—really wild country".

<i>The Biggest Little Farm</i> 2018 American film

The Biggest Little Farm is a 2018 American documentary film, directed by John Chester. The film profiles the life of John Chester and his wife Molly as they acquire and establish themselves on Apricot Lane Farms in Moorpark, California.

<i>Disclosure</i> (2020 American film) 2020 American documentary film by Sam Feder

Disclosure, originally subtitled Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen, is a 2020 American documentary film directed and produced by Sam Feder. The film follows an in-depth look at Hollywood's depiction of transgender people and the impact of their stories on transgender lives and American culture. It had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 27, 2020. It was released on Netflix on June 19, 2020.

<i>Divide and Conquer: The Story of Roger Ailes</i> 2018 American film

Divide and Conquer: The Story of Roger Ailes is a 2018 American documentary film, directed and produced by Alexis Bloom. It follows the rise and fall of conservative media mogul Roger Ailes. Alex Gibney serves as an executive producer under his Jigsaw Productions banner.

<i>Good Night Oppy</i> 2022 American documentary film

Good Night Oppy is a 2022 American documentary film directed by Ryan White and narrated by Angela Bassett. It had its world premiere at the 2022 Telluride Film Festival on September 3, 2022. It was released in a limited release on November 4, 2022, by Amazon Studios, prior to streaming on Prime Video on November 23, 2022.

<i>Antiracist Baby</i> 2020 childrens book by Ibram X. Kendi

Antiracist Baby is a 2020 children's book written by Ibram X. Kendi and illustrated by Ashley Lukashevsky. The book, inspired by the author's four-year-old daughter, was conceived as a tool for discussing racism with young children. The book proposes nine steps for discussing racism, with the ultimate goal of teaching children to be antiracist. The book states that "Antiracist Baby is bred not born. Antiracist Baby is raised to make society transform" and that a choice is necessary: "babies are taught to be racist or antiracist—there's no neutrality."

<i>Jennifer Lopez: Halftime</i> 2022 American documentary film

Jennifer Lopez: Halftime is a 2022 American Netflix original documentary film directed by Amanda Micheli. Its story follows the career of Jennifer Lopez, with a heavy focus on her performance at the Super Bowl LIV halftime show and her film Hustlers (2019). The film premiered at the opening night of the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival, and was released on Netflix on June 14, 2022.

<i>The Return of Tanya Tucker: Featuring Brandi Carlile</i> 2022 American film

The Return of Tanya Tucker: Featuring Brandi Carlile is an 2022 American documentary film, directed and produced by Kathlyn Horan. It follows Tanya Tucker returning to the studio to record her first album in 10 years, While I'm Livin', collaborating with Brandi Carlile.

Is That Black Enough for You?!? is a 2022 documentary film and film essay written and directed by culture critic and historian Elvis Mitchell.

<i>"Sr."</i> 2022 American film

"Sr." is a 2022 American documentary film that examines the careers and relationship between Robert Downey Jr. and his father, Robert Downey Sr. The film, directed by Chris Smith, was released theatrically on November 18, 2022, and was released on Netflix on December 2.

<i>Cassandro</i> (film) 2023 film by Roger Ross Williams

Cassandro is a 2023 American biographical drama film directed by Roger Ross Williams from a screenplay co-wrote by Williams and David Teague. It stars Gael García Bernal, Roberta Colindrez, Perla De La Rosa, Joaquín Cosío, Raúl Castillo, El Hijo del Santo and Bad Bunny. It had its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2023, and was released by Amazon MGM Studios in a limited release on September 15, 2023, prior to streaming via Prime Video on September 22, 2023.

<i>Love to Love You, Donna Summer</i> 2023 documentary film by Roger Ross Williams and Brooklyn Sudano

Love to Love You, Donna Summer is a 2023 American documentary film directed by Roger Ross Williams and Brooklyn Sudano. It follows the life and career of Donna Summer.

<i>Silver Dollar Road</i> 2023 film by Raoul Peck

Silver Dollar Road is a 2023 American documentary film written, directed and co-produced by Raoul Peck, based on the ProPublica article "Kicked Off The Land" by Lizzie Presser. The film follows a water front property passed through generations in the Reels family, becomes subject to harassment by land developers. Viola Davis serves as an executive producer.

References

  1. Gyarkye, Lovia (September 19, 2023). "'Stamped From the Beginning' Review: Roger Ross Williams' Absorbing but Limited Doc Recasts Black History's Narrators". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  2. Sun, Rebecca (June 15, 2021). "Netflix Partners with Dr. Ibram X. Kendi for Three Projects Based on His Books (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  3. "Stamped from the Beginning". Toronto International Film Festival . Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  4. Carey, Matthew (July 26, 2023). "TIFF Announces Documentary Lineup, With Film On Louis C.K. Scandal, Plus Latest From Raoul Peck, Errol Morris, Lucy Walker, Roger Ross Williams". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  5. O'Rourke, Ryan (August 30, 2023). "Roger Ross Williams Documentary 'Stamped From the Beginning' Sets Release Date". Collider . Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  6. Tangcay, Jazz (October 30, 2023). "'Stamped From the Beginning' Examines Racism and White Supremacy in Documentary From Roger Ross Williams (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  7. "Stamped from the Beginning". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved March 21, 2024.