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Space Is the Place
Program
Space Is the Place

Space Is the Place

John Coney
United States
1974
82 min
Top 10
Tickets & Times
Synopsis

Dressed in a futuristic pharaoh-like costume, the avant-garde jazz musician Sun Ra travels through time and the universe in his music-powered spaceship. After a mysterious disappearance, he lands on Earth with his crew to convince the African American community to free themselves from their earthly shackles and move to a utopian planet. To make this possible, he takes on The Overseer, a satanic godfather in the guise of a pimp, who he plays poker with to determine the fate of the Black community and the end of the world as we know it.

This science fiction story is mixed with documentary footage of a free jazz concert by Sun Ra and his Arkestra. The plot and design are absurdist, but the themes of Black identity, oppression and musical transcendence are very serious.

Sun Ra, who previously set out his ideas in a series of lectures entitled “The Black Man in the Cosmos” at UC Berkeley, plays himself. He advocates a new mythology utilizing art as a vehicle—in particular music. Released in 1974, the film is seen as the beginning of Afrofuturism and has since become a cult classic.

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Tickets & Times
Tue, november 19
19:45 – 21:12
Rialto De Pijp: Bovenzaal

Sat, november 23
13:00 – 14:27
Tuschinski 3
Credits
82 min
color
DCP
Spoken languages: English
Director
    John Coney
    John Coney
Production
    Jim Newman,
    North American Star System
    Jim Newman,
    North American Star System
Cinematography
    Seth Hill
    Seth Hill
Editing
    Barbara Pokras
    Barbara Pokras
Music
    Sun Ra
    Sun Ra
Screenplay
    Joshua Smith,
    Sun Ra
    Joshua Smith,
    Sun Ra
World Sales
    Rapid Eye Movies
    Rapid Eye Movies
Distribution for the Netherlands
    De Filmfreak
    De Filmfreak
Screening copy
    De Filmfreak
    De Filmfreak

Stills

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In an unconventional Top 10, Johan Grimonprez invites us to explore the tip of the iceberg of his vast film archives. Shown in thematic chapters, the selection showcases key themes that guide his artistic practice.
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Alternative 3

Alternative 3

Christopher Miles
1977
56 min