Claire Burch

The James Baldwin Anthology consists of internationally known writer James Baldwin's historic speech at UC Berkeley in 1979, his answers in a dialogue with Malcom X in the ’60s, and series of original mixed media images done by Claire Burch as a memorial after his death in 1987. Following this material is an additional half hour which contains an interview with the late Professor Erskine Peters who was host to Jimmy at this time, and footage of a session at Cody’s Bookstore in Berkeley, California where author David Lemming reads from his biography of Jimmy and describes Baldwin’s sad and funny efforts to bring a close friend, the painter Beauford Delaney, from a psychiatric unit in France to Turkey where Jimmy was living at the time.

Journalizing his final year before dying of cancer in May 1996, this documentary takes a sentimental walk down memory-lane to honor a man whose place in history is surely guaranteed. Probably best known for his oft-quoted (and misunderstood) 1960s phrase wherein Dr.Leary encouraged everyone to "turn on, tune in and drop out", the filmmakers sought to capture the real man behind the legend; vox-pops with friends, colleges and family pepper the storyline that made-up the multi-faceted man who was author, psychologist, teacher, guru, fugitive-from-justice and dignified humorist. We see him in his experimental 1960s, the hippie 70s, his thoughtful 80s and the futuristic 90s. Overall a very satisfying documentary about this extraordinary man. Ever the Professor, we see his musings on life & death and, after succumbing to the inevitable, we witness the (somewhat macabre) after-death cryogenic storage of his severed head for his optimistic, future generations to do with what they may.

A memorial tribute to Alfonia Tims Jr., an innovative African American jazz musician from New York City, who died at the age of 26, three weeks before release of his first highly praised and well received album. Includes early conversations, original music and other documentary material.