FOLLOWING HARRY is an intimate documentary about the legendary Harry Belafonte playing at SBIFF (Santa Barbara International Film Festival), and I had the opportunity to see an early look – here’s my Spoiler Free take:
FOLLOWING HARRY weaves pivotal moments from Mr. B’s professional and private life into his extraordinary activist activities. He lived through larger-than-life iconic blips in history. He marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King as they crossed the infamous bridge, promoting nonviolence to achieve justice and racial equality for all. Sitting in the same room with Harry has been compared to simply “being seen and held.”
The film used clips and interviews to share Mr. B’s profound ability to lead, teach, and inspire all those who knew him. He was sought out and invited to help create the path forward. FOLLOWING HARRY was entertaining and educational. Fast-pacing guided audiences through decades of turmoil, fear, and dreams for a better future. Watching this documentary begged for different outcomes, but we are “integrating into a burning house and must all become firemen.” Powerful phrases encouraged everyone to pick up “the trail of brilliant crumbs” Harry Belafonte left behind.
FOLLOWING HARRY is an exceptional film that honors the memory of Harry Belafonte and encourages the next generation to stand on his shoulders and work together “to control their destiny.”
