Bonnie Anderson/Special to The Morning Star
The Okanagan Screen Arts Society is showing BlacKkKlansman at the Vernon Towne Cinema Jan. 14.
In the midst of the 1970s civil rights movement, Ron Stallworth (John David Washington), the first African American police detective to serve in the Colorado Springs Police Department, is determined to make a name for himself and sets out on a dangerous mission to infiltrate and expose the Ku Klux Klan.
The young detective succeeds in infiltrating the local Ku Klux Klan branch through contacting David Duke, (archived footage of the real David Duke), leader of the Ku Klux Klan. With the help of a more experienced colleague, Flip Zimmerman (Adam Driver) who goes undercover as a white supremacist, the two team up to take down the extremist and violent hate group, evolving into the undercover investigation of a lifetime as the incredible story of an American hero unfolds.
This film is written and directed by visionary filmmaker Spike Lee who is very fair to both sides in what could have been a politically discordant film of the exploration of American race relations
While it is entertaining, this story is based on true events showing actual footage of the 2017 Charlotesville riots, clips of Black Lives Matter activists chanting, Nazis clashing with the police, videos of President Donald Trump’s reaction to these incidents and other clips showing white nationalists who felt empowered by Trump’s words during the election.
Showtimes are 5:15 and 7:45 p.m. A cash wine bar is on site. Enjoy a pre-show intro by resident filmmaker Matt McDowell and live music in the lobby before the early show courtesy of Les Copeland. Advance tickets are available at the Towne Cinema box office and Expressions of Time.
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