The Devil (2012)

• 75%
• 2012
• Documentary
• Jean-Gabriel Périot

Edited to the sound of a powerful and menacing song by the French band Boogers, we see images of African-Americans and their struggles in the 1950s and 1960s. Their political awakening takes shape in speeches and demonstrations, and they capitalize on their momentum. Freedom is up for grabs, and the metaphorical genie is out of the bottle. In the words of the Boogers singer, "If you look upon my face, you are watching now the devil." From this perspective, it's all about projection, with the white man interpreting what the black man wants and seeing his rebellion as a threat. The easiest thing to do is to brand a stranger - someone you've never met or spoken to - as the devil, and to contain him with violence. In a fragment of a speech, prominent black activist Stokely Carmichael encourages his audience to find their self-respect. Meanwhile, another activist says black people should stop imitating white people.