Film Critic, the founder of Leitura Filmica

With a beautiful production, the short movie Augustus presents a strong message about racial equality.

The style of this movie, adding real images of police abuse against Afro-Americans in the end of the narrative story, reflects influences from filmmaker Spike Lee, who also uses this resource in his films. And Spike Lee is an active defender of the black causes.

Augustus emphasizes the need to still fight for equality in the United States. In 1840, ex-slave Augustus has visions of the future that show that black people still will continue to suffer racial prejudice. Encouraged by the abolitionists just before the Civil War, Augustus will make a speech to defend his conditions.

This short movie fierce fully encourages to continue the struggle.

Augustus highlights how important it is for black people keep manifesting, whether through art, like Spike Lee and Jon Alston, its director, or in their daily lives.

Read the Portuguese version on:

https://leiturafilmica.com.br/augustus/

Synopsis:

Augustus, a literate, escaped slave masquerading as a free man in Massachusetts just prior to the Civil War, experiences nightmares of his son's death and a future America that resembles the struggles of his own time. Augustus soon realizes the horrors of slavery and racial inequality will only continue if he remains complicit. He’s left with one choice; speak out or risk his freedom.

According to Alston, the movie was motivated and inspired by the prejudice that unfairly has stopped his mother to suit her employer.

To tell the story, Jon Alston goes beyond the straight narrative and inserts sequences of visions and dreams. Flashbacks are used to remind the origin of the main character, who is the one that learns that he has to fight for justice.