Corktown common
THURSDAY, August 10, 2023

Black Panther

With the short film The Drop In

What if there was an African nation that resisted every attempt at colonization and became the most technologically advanced society on the planet, kept secret from the outside world? What if that nation’s king was also a superhero? Much as he does in TOPS favourite Creed, in Black Panther Ryan Coogler elevates the franchise blockbuster, critiquing real-world systems of anti-Black racism, imperialism, and extractive capitalism through the four-colour frame of a comic book superhero spectacular. Coogler’s directorial vision of the world of Wakanda is brought vividly to life by a host of talented Black creatives, including among numerous others, Hannah Beachler’s stunning Afrofuturist production design, Ruth E. Carter’s Oscar-winning costumes, Michael B. Jordan as the brash, beguiling anti-imperialist anti-hero Killmonger, the iconic Angela Bassett as the Queen Mother of Wakanda, and of course Chadwick Boseman in his career-defining role as King T’challa, the Black Panther. Wakanda forever!

Naledi Jackson’s short action drama The Drop In likewise draws on Afrofuturist and blockbuster genre aesthetics to explore themes of cultural memory, postcolonialism, and the immigrant experience. Joelle seems to be an ordinary hairstylist at a Black salon in Scarborough, but an unexpected drop-in client reveals a long-buried secret: Joelle is trying to escape a sinister past in an unnamed African republic, and she has a very particular set of skills. Immaculately lit, shot, and choreographed, Jackson’s slow burn thriller artfully builds tension before exploding into hyperkinetic martial arts action that rivals the big-budget Marvel Cinematic Universe.