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Tongues Untied

  • 1989
  • Not Rated
  • 55m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
1.9K
YOUR RATING
Tongues Untied (1989)
On this IMDbrief, we'll download the history of the first movies to raise our collective awareness of HIV/AIDS.
Play clip4:54
Watch How Movies and TV Shaped Our Perception of HIV/AIDS
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Documentary

A documentary about the experiences of black homosexual men living in the United States of America.A documentary about the experiences of black homosexual men living in the United States of America.A documentary about the experiences of black homosexual men living in the United States of America.

  • Director
    • Marlon Riggs
  • Writers
    • Joseph Beam
    • Chris Harris
    • Essex Hemphill
  • Stars
    • Marlon Riggs
    • Michael Bell
    • Kerrigan Black
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    1.9K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Marlon Riggs
    • Writers
      • Joseph Beam
      • Chris Harris
      • Essex Hemphill
    • Stars
      • Marlon Riggs
      • Michael Bell
      • Kerrigan Black
    • 9User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 wins

    Videos1

    How Movies and TV Shaped Our Perception of HIV/AIDS
    Clip 4:54
    Watch How Movies and TV Shaped Our Perception of HIV/AIDS

    Photos6

    View Poster
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    Top cast33

    Edit
    Marlon Riggs
    Marlon Riggs
    • Self
    Michael Bell
    Michael Bell
    • Self
    Kerrigan Black
    • Self - Lavender Lovelights Performer
    Blackberri
    • Self - Lavender Lovelights Performer
    Djola Bernard Branner
    • Self
    • (as Bernard Branner)
    Ben Callet
    • Self
    Gerald Davis
    • Self
    Kenneth R. Dixson
    • Self
    Larry Duckette
    • Self
    Gideon Ferebee
    • Self
    Brian Freeman
    • Self
    Gene Garth
    • Self - Lavender Lovelights Performer
    Essex Hemphill
    • Self - Poetry Performer
    A.J. Honey
    • Self
    Paul Horrey
    • Self
    David Hunter
    • Self
    Wayson Jones
    • Self
    David Barron Kirkland
    • Self
    • Director
      • Marlon Riggs
    • Writers
      • Joseph Beam
      • Chris Harris
      • Essex Hemphill
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In 2022, the film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
    • Quotes

      Marlon Riggs: B.G.A. Black Gay Activist. 30-ish, well-read, sensitive, pro-feminist, seeks same for envelope licking, flyer distribution, banner assembly, demonstration companion, dialogical theorizing, good times and hot safe sex. I do not want to wed the movement, do you? End the silence, baby. We could make a serious revolution together.

    • Connections
      Edited from Eddie Murphy: Delirious (1983)
    • Soundtracks
      Lover Man
      Performed by Billie Holiday
      Courtesy of MCA Records

    User reviews9

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10

    Very intense poetic doc about gays, focus on black men

    If you like Paris is Burning, you'll enjoy this movie.

    If you don't like poetry, (as I certainly don't), please go into this loving Paris is Burning, and respect the efforts of historical, underground, artistic gay documentation.

    I skipped the first 5-10 minutes because the chanting/rhythmic hymns got disorienting and annoying. There's another musical segment near the 0.75 mark of the movie that was skipped over.

    Regardless, this film was VERY special to watch at first viewing. Humorous, descriptive, thoughtful wordplay and poetry, really, really exceptional, beautiful prose.

    Willi Ninja dances in this movie too!!
    • blank-386-399214
    • Feb 6, 2023
    • Permalink

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    FAQ15

    • How long is Tongues Untied?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 1989 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Развязанные языки
    • Filming locations
      • Oakland, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Signifyin' Works
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      55 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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