This pioneering film in the blaxploitation genre is a violent story of black power in the face of oppression and sets the standards for films like SHAFT, SUPERFLY and THE MACK. 'Sweetback' (played by Van Peebles who also wrote, produced, directed, edited and composed for the film) is a taciturn gigolo who keeps his female cliëntèle satisfied. When he resorts to violence to keep a wanted revolutionary out of the hands of the police, he is a man on the run and a cornered cat can jump in strange directions. SWEET SWEETBACK'S... was compulsory viewing for the Black Panthers at the time and is still a very experimental film.
- Director
- Melvin Van Peebles
- Country of production
- USA
- Year
- 1971
- Festival Edition
- IFFR 2003
- Length
- 97'
- Medium
- 35mm
- Language
- English
- Producer
- Jerry Gross
- Screenplay
- Melvin Van Peebles
- Editor
- Melvin Van Peebles
- Music
- Melvin Van Peebles
- Cast
- Melvin Van Peebles