Tongues Untied

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55m

Documentary

LGBTQ+

List

100%

Tomatometer

6 Reviews

52%

Audience Score

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.

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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

Full Review

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

I cannot but urge everyone to rediscover this audacious, provocative and essential masterpiece that spoke and still speaks for the black/gay fight against oppression - a wonderfully poetic call to action that remains important as long as silence continues to echo with complicity.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

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

Full Review

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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