Quarantine Black Movie Marathon Day 3: Within Our Gates (1920)

this review has MINOR SPOILERS but, honestly, who cares. This movie came out 100 years ago.

Hello friends,

Today’s film in our black movie marathon is the 1920 silent film Within Our Gates written and directed by Oscar Micheaux. It is the oldest surviving feature length film directed by a black director. The film tells the story of Sylvia, a young woman with a complicated past who makes it her duty to advance the rights and quality of life for her race. Sylvia, originally southern, moves from Boston back to the south to teach black children. The school— plagued with financial issues— is on the brink of closure and Sylvia must return to the north to try and raise the money.

The version of the film that I watched is a restoration done by the Library of Congress which features a score produced by DJ Spooky. On the Library of Congress website, the film is completely silent; however you can find the scored version on various streaming services.

I did not expect this movie to have a happy ending. It’s rare to watch a film that deals with the complicated dynamics of early 20th century racism in both the north and the south and come out feeling good about the United States. Within Our Gates didn’t just make me feel good— it made me feel patriotic. Look around. That is not an easy feat right now. I am just going to quote the final lines of the film here (they don’t really give away anything about the actual plot) because they exemplify the mood of the film. These lines are accompanied by a variation of “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” that has a national anthem feel:

“Be proud of our country, Sylvia. We should never forget what our people did in Cuba under Roosevelt’s command. And at Carrizal in Mexico. And later in France, from Bruges to Chateau-Thierry, from Saint-Mihiel to the Alps! We were never immigrants. Be proud of our country, always! And you, Sylvia have been thinking about this, I know— but unfortunately your thoughts have been warped. In Spite of your misfortunes you will always be a patriot— and a tender wife. I love you!”

It can be hard to follow silent films sometimes and I can’t say there weren’t moments while watching where I would get confused or not really understand a reference or something alluded to that audiences back then would probably get immediately. However, I kind of just let myself ride through it and found that— though I may not have caught every little thing— I still found it engaging and worth the watch. Not only was it inspiring and educational and all that good stuff, it was really entertaining. THE DRAMA. There were many moments where I gasped at the twists and turns.

If silent movies aren’t for you— which I know is true for most people. I’d still give this movie a shot. The score by DJ Spooky gives it an extra layer of entertainment (I’ll definitely be listening to it as study music in the future) but the final section is something that everyone will be able to engage with. If you’re still not convinced, check out the final sequence on its own. It’s worth it.

Additional Random Thoughts

I wonder what all the white actors in the film thought of the “controversial” script
this movie makes me want to buy a good hat
The Birth of a Nation? never heard of her.
happy 100th anniversary!!!

What are your thoughts on the history of black film? What’s the oldest black film you’ve seen?

See you soon,

Sofia