Black and Blue
8m

On the surface, Black and Blue appears to be a “day in life” of a protagonist, played by Johnson. It begins with him waking up in bed and getting ready in the bathroom. Filmed in his home and featuring his family, Black and Blue takes its title from the Fats Waller jazz standard (popularized by Louis Armstrong), which can be heard in the video (played on the piano by Johnson’s son). The film is also connected to Johnson’s work and artistic practice, showing interspersed clips of his own as well as artworks by other Black artists (like Deana Lawson), books ( like Roy deCarava), and traditional African masks in his home.
Recommendations
view all
The Voyeurs

Sweet Smell of Success

They'll Love Me When I'm Dead

Nude

The Cutter

Laura

The Fugitive Kind

The Man Who Cheated Himself

The Maltese Falcon

Bessie

Eyes of Laura Mars

Spider-Man

Crossroads

Mulholland Drive

Laurel Canyon

That's Entertainment!

Up Close & Personal

Kate & Leopold

C'mon C'mon

ReMastered: Devil at the Crossroads
