Brother From Another Planet Film Screening

THE BROTHER FROM ANOTHER PLANET
For his fourth feature, John Sayles gave the well-worn alien sci-fi trope a revitalized yet lo-fi punch with African American actor Joe Morton starring as a mute, telepathic visitor from beyond the stars. After ditching his malfunctioning spaceship at Ellis Island, Morton’s newcomer, known only as “The Brother,” navigates the customs of Manhattan’s residents while searching for a place to call home. From his initial refuge in a Harlem bar, he encounters a cross section of earthlings who read him—and the world—through a puzzling prism of race, class, and ethnicity, a scenario Sayles taps for both brilliant comedy and social commentary. (1984, dir. John Sayles, 35mm, color, 110 min.)

Preserved by the UCLA Film & Television Archive. Preserved in collaboration with Anarchists’ Convention from the original 35mm color negative, a 35mm color reversal intermediate, and the original 35mm sound track negative.

Includes a Q&A with Director John Sayles.