Horace Ové’s masterpiece “Pressure” is getting the spotlight treatment courtesy of Janus Films and the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM).
“Pressure” will screen for two weeks as part of the museum’s ode to Black British cinema. The program, titled “Uncharted Territories: Black Britain on Film, 1963-1986″ will take place from May 3 through 7, leading up to the new 4K restoration of “Pressure,” widely regarded as the first Black British narrative feature film.
“Uncharted Territories” features rarely screened work from filmmakers of African and Caribbean heritage based in Britain. The series includes “Burning an Illusion,” directed by Menelik Shabazz (1981), John Akomfrah’s “Handsworth Songs” (1986), “Territories” directed by Isaac Julien (1984), and more. The festival is programmed by Ashley Clark.
Screenings of “Pressure” begin May 10 and will continue through May 23. Herbert Norville, Oscar James, and Frank Singuineau star in the feature that follows a London-born teen (Norville), who is the son of Trinidadian parents. As he struggles to find his place in the world, he faces racism and alienation by the Black Power militarism espoused by his older brother. The feature was originally funded by the BFI Production Board and is considered the first full-length Black British film.
BFI previously honored the filmography of Sir Horace Ové in 2023. “Pressure” is newly restored by the BFI National Archive and The Film Foundation and will be released by Janus Films. The new trailer was edited by Damla Duru, the winner of BFI and Intermission Film’s competition to find and develop emerging editing talent.
BAM recently hosted its fourth annual “Queering the Canon” retrospective film series with NewFest. The lineup included a 4K restoration of Rose Troche’s lesbian classic “Go Fish,” the world premiere of the 4K restoration of Brian Sloan’s queer romantic comedy “I Think I Do,” 35mm screenings of Gus Van Sant’s “My Own Private Idaho,” Shûsuke Kaneko’s “Summer Vacation 1999,” and F. Gary Gray’s “Set It Off,” plus post-screening discussions with filmmakers, critics, and curators.
“Pressure” screens at BAM from May 10 through 23. Check out the trailer for the restoration from Janus Films below.
