Directed by Wendell B. Harris Jr.
94 minutes
In English

This dazzling flick is an incredibly biting satire about an intelligent black man who transforms himself into a social chameleon in order to survive in white society. The story is mine-blowing, and was inspired by the true story of Douglas Street, who lived a life impersonating different roles, posing as professional reporters, lawyers, athletes, military contractors and a doctor (when he entered a hospital pretending he was a surgeon he performed no less than 36 successful hysterectomies without any education). Every time he was caught he would just switch roles. It's not only a film about racism and ingenuity, but it is also about the class system and people's blind belief in experts. After all, in his last film Orson Welles also concluded that the real con-artists today are so-called 'professionals' and experts in their field.

Wendell B. Harris Jr. is not only the director of this crazy flick but is also the main actor, and he is absolutely brilliant. It's insane that this was his directorial debut, and that he never made another movie afterwards. On the other hand, the entire film industry was pretty much dead set against him, they didn't want a super intelligent film to be made by a black man, or an outsider of their system. People of color are allowed to be in Hollywood films, but they have to accept dumbed-down roles. This is also largely true of women. This flick takes a breathtaking script and fuses it with a new wave cinema style, human drama, and a dazzling sense of ironic black humor. It's amazing to be in the shoes of our main character as he gets into the most insane situations and somehow manages to bluff his way out. And not only is this based on a true story, but it also reveals another truth, about the entire myth of 'upward mobility' in our society and how it really works.

Despite the fact that it won the Grand Jury Prize in 1990 at the Sundance film festival, it took two years before the film was even distributed at all, and even then it was barely shown. Over the years it has achieved cult status and for the first time now it's starting to be recognized for what it is – a masterpiece.