The journey is symbolic of the Great Migration which saw millions of black people move from the south in search of golden opportunities that rarely came their way.
From Ruben Santiago-Hudson’s adaptation, director George C Wolfe creates a torrid, fractious mood among Wilson’s characters, to reflect the stifling sunless heat of the season.
Viola Davis is outstanding as the larger-than-life cantankerous singing star who takes on the white bosses and is determined to get her own way, while knowing her future depends on a successful record contract as others jostle to modernise her slightly outdated blues style. But for now, she’s afraid of nothing, flaunting her girlfriend Dussie Mae for all to see.
The film scores on many levels – a beautiful photographic representation of the 1920’s, a story full of human tragedy and stoic resolve, a symbol of the fight black people still face in the USA for equality, respect and fairness.
The pace of the story is as slow as the blues the band play but when idle chat erupts into violent action the effect is electrifying.
The documentary is well worth a watch to learn about the making of the film and the film itself is getting a second viewing from me for sure. It’s passionate, tough, unsettling , difficult and wonderful.
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is on Netflix.