Afrofuturism: Blackness Revisualized Presents SOULS Film Review — Hope After Death

There’s an old woman, Hattie, wobbling around, a bit unstable. She looks at herself in the mirror and is confused. “Who are you,” she tells her face in the mirror, and before someone, anyone, could answer that questions, she faints right then and there. The people in the house hear Hattie fall and rush in; it’s Sinea, Hattie’s grown daughter, and Kai, Hattie’s granddaughter, who is the little girl from the spaceship. Sinea quickly drags Hattie to the bed, trying to revive her while Kai asks questions left to right. Fed up with the inquiries, Sinea tells Kai to stop.

It’s over. Grandma is dead.

Kai rushes out of the house into the backyard and takes refuge in her makeshift spaceship. She didn’t know at the time, but this was the crash she had been expecting. At this point, she’s left to look at the stars for guidance.

Afrofuturism: Blackness Revisualized Presents Touches The Stars 

“Every star has a soul.” 

“How do you know?”

“Because it’s the way it’s always been.”

How do you cope with a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s? 

Malaki brings us the story of a beautiful relationship between an ill grandmother and her hopeful granddaughter. The 14-minute short film is filled with memories of Hattie, videos of her reminding herself of who she is, and her teaching Kai all about the stars, sparking Kai’s effervescent imagination. The constant images and talk of stars, nebulas, and novas in Souls contribute to its futuristic theme.

Written in the memory of the director’s grandmother, Souls will likely jerk your tear ducts, as it did this reviewer’s,  with its touching story. If you like the mix of hopeful fantasy and sad realities, this film is for you. If futurism isn’t your thing, and spaceships and retro quality aren’t your fancies, then you may not enjoy this film as much.