Baadasssss!

Aroview: A vibrant, thought-provoking homage by actor Mario Van Peebles to his father Melvin's 1971 blaxploitation crime indie "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song", depicting the making of this undiluted classic with an intriguing array of self-referential layers.

Literally stepping into his father's shoes, Van Peebles depicts the succession of obstacles faced by the black filmmaker in a mileu of hustlers, weirdos, corruption and crime, coupled with his own distracting personal pecadillos. While many filmmakers have faced budgetry restraints, few will have had to contend with the entire cast and crew being arrested, one of the many spectacular incidents which marked the 1971 production.

Finally however, it is the touching mixture of honesty, reverance and humour, that makes this a unique entry in the annals of filmmaking dramas.

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