Lee’s adaptation of what he considers “one of the most important books”, The Autobiography of Malcolm X, had long been his dream project. Starring Denzel Washington as Malcolm X and Angela Bassett as Betty Shabazz in career-defining performances, this large-scale epic presented an often demonised figure to a wide audience without compromising on his Black nationalist views, his journey with Islam, or the circumstances of his murder. One of Lee’s best, the film is also a peak for his long-time costume designer Ruth Carter, whose wardrobes effortlessly capture decades of Black American experience.
35mm print courtesy of the National Film and Sound Archive, Australia.
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