Silent Beats

Streaming video - 2000

A young African-American man tap dances in a studio lined with mirrors. He enters an Asian-American-owned convenience store. Images that reinforce racial stereotypes are shown, representing the thoughts of the owner, as well as those of the protagonist and an elderly Caucasian customer. The store owner is suspicious that the young black man is a hoodlum. The white woman thinks of street beggars. The protagonist thinks of the convenience store owner in stereotypical images (e.g. wearing a “coolie” hat). In flashback, we see images of the young man caring for his mother, who has breast cancer. Back in the store, he buys a bottle of water. The tension eases as he leaves. Unnoticed by the store owner, the elderly Caucasian woman steals a ca...ndy bar. Back at the dance studio, the protagonist dances an intricate and energetic tap dance. He stops and drinks from his bottle of water and stares into the camera.

Saved in:
Subjects
Genres
Feature films
Published
[San Francisco, California, USA] : University of Southern California Cinematic Arts 2000.
2020.
Language
English
Other Authors
Jon M. Chu (film director), Antoine Grant (actor), Diane Sellers, Dr Wayne Gaddis, Flo Smith, George Yau
Online Access
A Kanopy streaming video
Cover Image
Item Description
Title from title frames.
Film
In Process Record.
Physical Description
1 online resource (streaming video file) (6 minutes): digital, .flv file, sound
Format
Mode of access: World Wide Web.
Access
AVAILABLE FOR USE ONLY BY IOWA CITY AND RESIDENTS OF THE CONTRACTING GOVERNMENTS OF JOHNSON COUNTY, UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, HILLS, AND LONE TREE (IA).