Tongues Untied

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Tongues Untied

1989

55m

Documentary

LGBTQ+

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100%

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6 Reviews

52%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

Filmmaker Marlon Riggs gives a voice to communities of gay black men, presenting their cultures and perspectives on the world as they confront racism, homophobia and marginalization.

Wally Hammond

Time Out

At heart, it's a celebratory film which buzzes with intelligence, unashamed emotion, adrenalin, and that strange tenderness forged in suffering.

Aug 23, 2010

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Steve McKinney

Alabama Forum

The result -- moving, gripping, engulfing -- is no less than stunning.

May 4, 2023

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Brian Susbielles

InSession Film

Riggs was a gay Black man who documented major racism and homophobia towards gay Black men...

Mar 6, 2023

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Cary Alan Johnson

Gay Community News (Boston)

Tongues Untied is a Black gay time capsule. It is Marlon Riggs’ gift to our community, and the culture it embodies is our collective gift to the double brothers of tomorrow.

Aug 26, 2022

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Mattie Lucas

From the Front Row

A bracing statement of self-identity and a towering work of self-expression and self-reflection, beautifully capturing a time and place yet reverberating through the decades as a work by an artist boldly stating his Black queerness.

Jun 7, 2022

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Alex Castro

Senses of Cinema

Tongues weaves poetry, performance, popular culture, personal testimony and history in a complex pattern that emerges as an essentially personal statement.

Jul 30, 2010

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PridePosterStudios

Important voices, important messages, but the delivery is too obscure and unengaging to get them across.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

04/24/24

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Audience Member

"Special Interest" indeed. A daring foray into the deep, dark forest where black queens and SNAP! divas frolick. Disturbing in whole, touching in parts. Sitting through this film is nothing short of serving in a leper colony as far as building tolerance is concerned.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

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Audience Member

The display of groundbreaking material is not enough to get past a distinct lack of filmmaking skill.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

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Audience Member

Calling this a documentary is a stretch. And I think this type of thing works better as live performance art than it does a film.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

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Audience Member

An all right movie with a strong message. The poems are good.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

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Audience Member

I think it's only available in VHS, and I am really glad that I got to watch this. It's more revolutionary and more rebellious than Paris Is Burning; it is a poetic and insightful semi-documentary about how it is to be gay and black. Sure, I can somehow relate to what they go through because I am also gay and belong to a visible minority. We as gay non-white men have not much images of ourselves in the media, movies, literature, etc. It's mostly representations of gay white men. My most favorite scene is when the gay black men give us lessons in the different ways to snap our fingers. Oh snap, girlfriend.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

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Marlon Riggs

Director

Vivian Kleiman

Cinematographer

Marlon Riggs

Cinematographer

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Synopsis

Filmmaker Marlon Riggs gives a voice to communities of gay black men, presenting their cultures and perspectives on the world as they confront racism, homophobia and marginalization.

Director: Marlon Riggs
Genre: Documentary, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Runtime: 55m
Sound Mix: Mono