Memory Room 451
Originally released in 1996. Memory Room 451 is a science fiction/documentary film. directed by John Akomfrah. At just 25 minutes, it's a tight, focused story.
Synopsis
The subject matter of Memory Room 451 is the cultural and historical significance of 20th-century hairstyles – the Afro, the conk, dreadlocks – in Black communities on both sides of the Atlantic. Akomfrah has disguised this exploration as a science fiction story – in the manner of the groundbreaking writers profiled in The Last Angel of History – while providing a bravura display of the aesthetics of video art in the 1990s. The tale of visitors from the future who gather dreams from unwitting subjects in order to construct a history of the Black diaspora both defamiliarizes Akomfrah’s ongoing project and points to the danger that extracting history from memory can be a kind of expropriation.
Quick Facts
Release Date
January 1, 1996
30 years ago
Runtime
0h 25m
25 minutes total
User Rating
4.5/10
Mixed (1 votes)
Language
English
Original language
Country
United Kingdom
Production
Director
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Production Details
- Status
- Released
- Original Language
- EN
Production Companies
- Black Audio Film Collective
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Memory Room 451 about?
The subject matter of Memory Room 451 is the cultural and historical significance of 20th-century hairstyles – the Afro, the conk, dreadlocks – in Black communities on both sides of the Atlanti...
Who directed Memory Room 451?
Memory Room 451 was directed by John Akomfrah.
How long is Memory Room 451?
Memory Room 451 has a runtime of 0 hours and 25 minutes (25 minutes total).
When was Memory Room 451 released?
Memory Room 451 was released on January 1, 1996 in theaters.