Shoot the Messenger

Presented by Come The Revolution

“Everything bad that has happened in my life has happened because of black people” says Joe Pascale (David Oyelowo) at the start of this race satire. He is rejected from the teaching profession, as the result of false assault accusations against him by the Black pupils he wanted to support. He is called a ‘House N….r ‘ ‘a Ku Klux Klansman with a Black face’ by the community campaign that follows the accusations. He is dumped by his girlfriend for trying to encourage her Black Pride. In Joe’s eyes, his attempts at being a community role model have ruined his life. ‘Shoot the Messenger’ brilliantly questions Joe’s rescue complex whilst also providing a sharp critique of racism in Britain.

Shoot the Messenger is screening as part of NO B/S!, a programme of screenings and events in Bristol that celebrate the many tones of Black comedy. NO B/S! is part of  Comedy Genius, a national celebration of comedy onscreen,  led by BFI, the Independent Cinema Office and BFI Film Audience network, supported by funds from the National Lottery. #bficomedy

Film certificate 15

Running time 90 mins

This is a seated film screening presented by Come The Revolution in The Foyer at Colston Hall.

Post-screen discussion

There will be a post-screen discussion from 8:30pm with Dr Shawn Sobers (UWE /Fairfield House), Julian Davis (creativist) , & Linda Devolicious (Queer Vision/ Kiki Bristol) chaired by Edson Burton (Come the Revolution).

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Presented by

  • A collective of curators and creatives from Bristol and Birmingham committed to exploring black life through cinema.

  • The BFI Film Audience Network is a unique collaboration of eight Film Hubs managed by leading film organisations across the UK.

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