Although it‘s the shortest month of the year, February has some significant days in it. There’s of course the obvious Valentine’s Day; moreover, February is also Black History Month. It just so happens that these two crucial movies are released this month to celebrate these occasions, and we think you should give them a watch.
Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga
The timing for Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga can’t be more ideal. For one, it’s a romantic comedy that premiered in its home country, India, on February 1, the start of Valentine’s month.
What’s more, though, it came out just five months after the historical day in India, when the country’s highest court officially overthrew Section 377, an ancient law that criminalized homosexual acts. And this is important because, unlike most other Bollywood romance flicks, Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga (which translates to “How I Felt When I Saw That Girl”) is centered around a lesbian female character.
Following a family as they learn to accept the daughter’s sexual identity, Ek Ladki stars global movie star Anil Kapoor and his real-life daughter, Sonam Kapoor. The fact that it’s supported from such Bollywood royalty further lends weight to this groundbreaking movie.
Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror
Making its debut on the streaming service Shudder on February 9, the documentary Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror arrives in conjunction with Black History Month in the U.S. Adapted from Dr. Robin R. Means Coleman’s book of the same name, it chronicles the history of scary films that center around black characters.
Thanks to the success of Get Out, there has been more interest in black horror. But the documentary will also discuss the dark old days, specifically the year 1915 when D.W. Griffith’s Birth of a Nation, which shows KKK as heroes, was released. It will also touch on the Blaxploitation genre before finally diving into modern-era movies such as Candyman and the aforementioned Get Out.
Enlightening and eye-opening, Horror Noire also features exclusive interviews with actors and directors, including Jordan Peele and the Candyman himself, Tony Todd.
Images c/o Fox Hindi & Shudder.
