The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement (2011)
The film features 85-year-old Mr. Armstrong, an African American barber in Birmingham, Alabama, as he experiences the manifestation of an unimaginable dream: the election of the first African American president. This colorful and courageous activist of the Civil Rights era casts his vote, celebrates Obama's victory and proudly unfurls the American flag as he is inducted into the Foot Soldiers Hall of Fame. Mr. Armstrong links the magnitude of the present paradigm shift with challenges he faced in the past: from his sons' integration into an all white school to the Bloody Sunday march for voting rights. The documentary raises questions about democracy and patriotism in the face of adversity, and the vigilance and action required to ensure continued forward movement to end racial injustice.
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Good concept, poorly executed.
Fresh and Exciting
The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.
The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.