"The Last Black Man in San Francisco" Review: Thoughtful and Artistic Debut for First Time Director

Plot Synopsis courtesy of IMDb.com: “A young man searches for home in the changing city that seems to have left him behind.”

Directed by: Joe Talbot (American Paradise)

Written by: Joe Talbot (American Paradise), Jimmie Fails (American Paradise), Rob Richert (4 Pounds of Flowers)

Starring: Jimmi Fails (American Paradise), Jonathan Majors (Captive State), Danny Glover (Lethal Weapon)

The Last Black Man in San Francisco is rated R.

Photo courtesy of A24

In 2015, lifelong friends Joe Talbot and Jimmie Fails produced a homemade fundraising trailer to raise money for a film they had hoped to make since high school.  By the end of the month, their Kickstarter campaign had raised over $75,000, and their social media campaign had become a national news story. The project would eventually gain attention within the film industry, with Brad Pitt signing on to produce.  The Last Black Man in San Francisco first premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this January where it won the US Dramatic Directing Award and the Special Jury Award for Creator Collaboration.

In addition to penning the original script, Jimmie Fails stars in the film as an African American man attempting to restore and reclaim the Victorian house he grew up in.  The film centers around the gentrification of historic neighborhoods in San Francisco, and follows Jimmie and his roommate Montgomery as they try to preserve their sense of belonging from the changing city around them.  For both Jimmie Fails and Joe Talbot, The Last Black Man in San Francisco marks their feature debuts.

It is hardly shocking that this film is one that is deeply personal for both San Francisco natives, but it is surprising how they manage to translate that same warmth on screen.  The film opens with a young girl skipping down the sidewalk with a lollipop while men in hazmat suits pluck hazardous waste from the roadside, an image that universally captures the love we all feel for the places that raised us, despite their most egregious shortcomings.  Talbot's direction creates a magnificent side of San Francisco that feels wholly unique yet familiar at the same time. Shot in the uncommon 1.66:1 aspect ratio, The Last Black Man in San Francisco establishes the vertical scale of the city, and draws the audience's gaze skyward, without losing any of the lavish architectural details.

A significant portion of the film takes place inside the house itself, a gorgeous space that is used to perfection.  Scenes are lit by sunlight seeping through stained glass, and the colors of the paneling and decor melt off the screen.  The film's modest budget doesn't hold the film back in any way, proving Talbot an adept craftsman given his limited resources.

The cast featured primarily unknown talent (aside from Danny Glover of course), but all performed exceptionally well.  The relationship between Fails' and Majors' characters was subtly heartfelt and tender, aspects highlighted by their skillful performances.  The somber attitudes expressed by each afforded the film a reverence for the story it had to tell.

One of the film's greatest strengths lies in its original score, a powerfully moving piece of music that accentuates the films highest and lowest points.  Composed by Emile Mosseri, the music features bold orchestration that seems to crescendo in concert with the pacing of the film's climax. A soulful rendition of "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)" by Daniel Herskedal, Emile Mosseri and Joe Talbot caps off the drama with gusto.

For a film with such a depressed subject matter, The Last Black Man in San Francisco manages to fill itself with enough pure joy to touch nerves across the emotional spectrum.  It is not afraid to examine its characters' most inauspicious subtleties, and rewards viewers with a rich and layered story.  Though not as accessible as many films in wider release, The Last Black Man in San Francisco is a uniquely smart and moving film, and it is one worth seeking out.

Reel Rating: 8/10

The Last Black Man in San Francisco is now playing in cinemas.