The Last Black Man in San Francisco Movie Review

The Last Black Man in San Francisco is the first feature-length effort from writer and director Joe Talbot. And what a way to debut. This is a powerful story about a young man who has lived in San Francisco his whole life. Jimmie Fails (Jimmie Fails) has watched San Francisco explode in growth and become a very different city over the course of his life. He has been pushed out and displaced like many San Franciscans who have lived there for generations.

Jimmie lives with his best friend Montgomery (Johnathan Majors) in a house that he shares with his blind grandfather. Every day, Jimmie visits his childhood home. He does repairs to the home, much to the chagrin of the current owners. He longs for his house, but also of a different era in San Francisco. The movie meanders through Jimmie and Montgomery’s lives showcasing their experience in this “new” San Francisco. The underside of San Francisco is shown through the anger of those who have been displaced. The movie also showcases the dead end that most in San Francisco are experiencing due to housing costs and the rising cost of living.

Jimmie’s ties to the house are explored and his parents and a few aunts and uncles wander through the narrative. The impermanence of things is present always, in every scene. Talbot captures the beauty of San Francisco while also exposing it’s failure as a city. All that glitters, is not gold seems a good tagline for San Fran. Strong performances from Fails and Majors combined with excellent cinematography and a good screenplay make for an excellent movie experience. I can’t wait to see what Talbot conquers next. I hope it is as nuanced and intriguing as The Last Black Man in San Francisco.

Film or Movie: Film
You’ll like this film if:
1. You like meandering plot lines
2. You have a love/hate relationship with a city (especially if that city is San Fran)
3. You want to see a good representation of displacement