Black Film Center/Archive

Valerie, a Woman, an Artist, a Philosophy of Life (1975) - The film provides a glimpse into the world of sculptor, Valerie Maynard. She is shown working in her home, walking through Harlem, teaching, and preparing an exhibition. Documentary, 14 min., 16mm, dir: Monica J. Freeman.

Vanities, The (1946) - A short musical revue featuring Charles Keith impersonating Bette Davis, two songs performed by Joesfred Portee, and an interpretive dance by "Little" Audrey Armstrong. Musical, 17 min., 16mm, VHS, dir: William D. Alexander.

Veiled Aristocrats (1932) - Lorenzo Tucker stars in this story of a lawyer who returns home to find that his light-skinned sister is about to marry a dark-skinned man. His mother disapproves and has picked a "more suitable" candidate. Drama, 48 min., VHS, dir: Oscar Micheaux.

Videodance (1994) - Includes four experimental films: Crossings, Improvisation II, Empty Sky, and On the Beach. Miscellaneous, 21 min., VHS, dir: Linda Gibson.

Vie est Belle, La [aka Life is Rosy] (1987) - Kourou (Papa Wemba), a poor rural musician, goes to the city in order to make a name for himself in the vibrant music scene of Kinshasha. The film also features popular Congolose musician Pépé Kallé as himself. Musical Comedy, 85 min., VHS, dir: Ngangura Mweze & Benoit Lamy.

Vintage: Families of Value (1995) - This documentary depicts three sets of Black lesbian and gay siblings: the director and his brother, three lesbian sisters, and a lesbian sister and gay brother. Using archival and documentary footage, interviews, and conversations between the siblings--who also film one another--the film talks about what makes a family a family of value. Documentary, 72 min., VHS, dir: Thomas Allen Harris.

Virtual Reality (1993) - Donna Golden produced this experimental short that presents the filmmaker's self-experience of racism and societal reality. Documentary, 9 min., VHS, dir: Donna Golden.

Visions of the Spirit: A Portrait of Alice Walker (1989) - Alice Walker narrates the struggles black women writers encounter to attain recognition and success. It emphasizes her vision and encouragement to other women writers. Documentary, 59 min., VHS, dir: Elena Featherstone.

Visit, The (2001) - Alex Waters (Hill Harper) serves time for a rape he claims he did not commit. The only family member who visits him is his brother Tony (Obba Babatunde). Alex, in the final stages of AIDS, through flashbacks, dreams, and real-time encounters interacts with the people in his life: his parents Lois (Marla Gibbs) and Henry (Billy Dee Williams), his friend Felicia McDonald (Rae Dawn Chong), and his therapist Dr. Coles (Phylicia Rashad). Drama, 107 min., DVD, dir: John Walker-Pearlman.