Compensation
Midnite weekend screenings happen on Friday & Saturday nights,. so please be sure to arrive on Friday and/or Saturday night by 11:45pm for seating and the screening will start after midnight.
Director: Zeinabu irene Davis Run Time: 92 min. Format: DCP Release Year: 1999
Starring: John Earl Jelks, Michelle A. Banks, Nirvana Cobb, Kevin L. Davis, Christopher Smith
The life of a deaf African American woman in the early 1900s parallels with another living in the 1990s.
Inspired by Paul Laurence Dunbar’s poem of the same title, Zeinabu irene Davis’s debut feature is an exploration of language, migration, illness, love, and ritual that likewise illuminates unique Black histories, cultures, and artistry. Starring Michelle A. Banks and John Earl Jelks, the film follows two couples in different time periods between the early and late 20th century who must contend with their emotions, tensions between Deaf and hearing experiences, and the toll of structural racism on Black lives during major medical epidemics. Shot in luminous black-and-white and incorporating a rich trove of historical photos, an original ragtime score, and title cards, Compensation evokes both a sense of tragedy and a hopefulness for life that remains persistent in the hearts of Black Americans today. -SARAH-TAI BLACK
Guided and approved by director Zeinabu irene Davis, this 4K digital restoration was undertaken by the The Criterion Collection, The UCLA Film and Television Archive, and Wimmin With a Mission Productions in conjunction with The Sundance Institute from a scan of the 16mm original camera negative. The 5.1 surround soundtrack was mastered from DAT tapes by the UCLA Film and Television Archive.
Featuring post-screening virtual Q&A with filmmaker Zeinabu irene Davis
Presented fully captioned with newly-created, dynamic open captions created by the filmmaker in collaboration with Alison O’Daniel, director of THE TUBA THIEVES. Presented with accompanying live transcription for the event’s opening remarks as well as the virtual filmmaker Q&A
Low/fixed income Black folks — message @BlackGoldTO on Instagram or Facebook for complimentary tickets!
PLEASE WEAR A MASK! Black communities continue to be disproportionately affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the structural inequities it further entrenches. We care for us! KN95 and N95 masks will be available onsite for guests.
ACCESSIBILITY: Paradise has a wheelchair accessible washroom on site and wheelchair accessible spaces within the cinema. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to either Black Gold or Paradise if you have additional access needs or concerns!
Doors Open 30 Minutes Before Showtime.