New 4K Re-Release Trailer for ‘Slam’ Poet Movie Starring Saul Williams
by Alex Billington
April 10, 2024
Source: YouTube
“This is my life!!” Kino Lorber has revealed a new official trailer for the 4K restoration and re-release of a 1998 film titled Slam, from director Marc Levin and starring the talented actor / filmmaker / musician Saul Williams. This originally premiered back in 1998 at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won a few prizes, later playing at Cannes, Deauville, Helsinki, Toronto, and New York Film Fests that same year. “Slam is a landmark film that defies easy categorization. This emotionally powerful and technically innovative film deserves to be seen on the big screen.” Williams stars as a guy named Ray Joshua who copes with urban crime and despair by competing in poetry slams. It also stars Sonja Sohn, Marc Levin, Bonz Malone, and Beau Sia. Slam has been digitally restored from the 35mm interpositive, and a new 4K DCP created in collaboration between Sundance Institute, the Academy Film Archive, the UCLA Film & Television Archive, and Lionsgate. Featuring sublime poetry & heart-wrenching realism, Slam is a testament to the importance and impact of artistic expression. Winner of the Grand Jury Prize (Dramatic) at Sundance and the Caméra d’Or (Best First Feature) at Cannes. Hell yeah it looks damn good!! Now’s the time to finally catch up with it.
Here’s the new 4K restoration trailer (+ poster) for Marc Levin’s film Slam, direct from KL’s YouTube:
Raymond (Saul Williams) is a young Black performance poet living in Washington, D.C. who is arrested and imprisoned for a petty marijuana charge. Danger lurks around every corner, but nothing can stop him from establishing his identity, strength, and voice. In jail, Raymond meets a prison gang leader (Bonz Malone) and a writing teacher (Sonja Sohn) who inspires him to use the power of creative expression to fight for his freedom and avoid becoming another victim of the racist criminal justice system. Slam is directed by the American producer / filmmaker Marc Levin, his fourth narrative feature film at the time following The Execution Machine: Texas Death Row. The screenplay is by Sonja Sohn & Marc Levin & Bonz Malone & Saul Williams & Richard Stratton; from a story by Marc Levin & Richard Stratton. This initially premiered at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival. Kino Lorber will re-release Levin’s Slam in 4K in select US theaters starting April 26th, 2024 this spring. For info on the release, visit their official site. Who’s down?