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BLACK AUGUST

Warner Home Video / Region 1 / 116 minutes

Featuring Gary Dourdan, Vonetta McGee, Leith M. Burke, Tina Marie Murray, Elisabeth Nunziato

Best known for his role in CSI Crime Scene Investigation, Gary Dourdan breaks out of the confines of the weekly show to prove what a talented actor he is in in this true lofe story of the life of Black Power activist George Lester Jackson and based on the book Soledad Brother.

Focusing mostly on life in prison for Jackson, Black August pulls no punches in this stirring and ultimately uplifting tale. During his life Jackson went from local street tough to political martyr after being arrested for stealing $70 dollars from a gas station and being given a sentence that could last anywhere betwen 1 year and eleven years. During his time in prison (much of which is spent studing the revolutionary thinkers of history) Jackson is able to get published a series of letters and articles into a book called Soledad Brother (Jackson was in Soledad Prison at the time), it was this that brought his name to a wide public and turn him into something of a figurehead for a growing movement, particularly with the Black Guerella activist group, events build up to a major flashpoint moment in San Quentin Prison.

A very strong movie full of very strong performances especially Dourdan in the title role and a major insight into the racism and brutally of prison life in the 1960's, Black August is not just a stirring drama but an important movie to boot.

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