Oscar Micheaux pioneered fighting against mainstream movie-making, shaking up early 20th-century narratives by showing Black life, with Black people, on the celluloid screen. His second picture even directly countered Birth of a Nation. It’s fair to say Micheaux was fearless and dedicated to his vocation. Pay homage to the first major African American feature filmmaker at AFS with this newly restored version of God’s Step Children. Presented as part of their Essential Cinema special programming, Micheaux’s film tackles colorism and interpersonal drama. It’s a tragic tale of abandoned children, fruitless longing, and high stakes. – Cat McCarrey
