500 Years Later (2005)

Director:

Owen Alik Shahadah

Writers:

M.K. Asante Jr. (writer)
Owen Alik Shahadah (writer)

Release Date:

24 February 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary

Tagline:

Until lions tell their story, the tale of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.

Plot:

Crime, drugs, HIV/AIDS, poor education, inferiority complex, low expectation, poverty, corruption, poor health...

Plot Keywords:

African | Slavery | Independent Film Making | Black Independent Film | Slave Trade

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Hunter Adams	...	Himself - neuroscientist
Hakim Adi	...	Himself - historian
Toyin Agbetu	...	Himself - Ligali Media
Mukasa Afrika	...	Himself - Lotus Academy teacher
Ras Kumasi	...	Himself - Afruika Bantu School teacher
Adisa Alkebulan	...	Himself - lecturer (as Dr. Adisa Alkebulan)
Afrar Afriyea	...	Himself - Afruika Bantu School teacher
Sister Aya	...	Herself - Afruika Bantu School teacher
Molefi Kete Asante	...	Himself - Temple University (as Dr. Molefi Asante)
M.K. Asante Jr.	...	Himself
Amiri Baraka	...	Himself - poet and activist (voice)
David Commissiong	...	Himself - Pan-African Affairs
Kevin Farmer	...	Himself - Barbadian historian
Mighty Gabby	...	Himself - Barbadian cultural amabassador
Nelson George	...	Himself

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo (RCA Sound System)

Filming Locations:

Accra, Ghana

Company:

Halaqah Media

Trivia:

One of the largest screenings in film history occurred when this movie was shown at the Million More Movement in Washington, D.C., on 15 October 2005.

Quotes:

Maulana Karenga: The other thing they try to do is make us responsible for our own enslavement. And here they collapse three kinds of people: perpetrators, collaborators and victims. You can't do that!"
Maulana Karenga: Not just burning some small, thatched roof houses but destroying towns, cities, villages, great works of art, great literature's and the people that made that art and literature! Songs we would never hear! Histories we would never know! Art we would never see! Because the European had the capacity to destroy and didn't have the moral restraint not to

Movie Connections:

References Sankofa (1993)

Soundtrack:

TEAR FOR THE WORLD

500 YEARS LATER- A film of the century

500 YEARS LATER is one of those every 20 years films. Like the one history will remember. I can see a time when this film is the focal point of social-historical lectures in universities. I can see this film breaking the boundaries of film-making where film making becomes viewed as a historical vessel of the 21st century in the way ancient Egyptians left pyramids. There is often a discount entertainment value that is given to film but this film is clearly in the scholarly domain. It preserving the journey of Afrikan people in its narrative and style it is informing on the most compelling stats of our time. It is educational and poses the problems but also the solutions-realistic solutions. But the best part about this film for me personally is the way in which it doesn't portray or play in to the stereotype of the "Black victim" the sorry everything is against us victim. No, it is honest and puts responsibility back into the hands of our people. A must see for every Black person and essential viewing for anyone who claims to be sincere about the forward motion of humanity peacefully. Because it will give anyone who sees it a direct uncoloured look into the Global Black experience 500 YEARS LATER. excellent work!!!!!!!!!