In person: Q&A with filmmaker Charles Burnett and Ashley Clark, author of The World of Black Film: A Journey Through Cinematic Blackness in 100 Films. Clark will sign copies of the book before the screening.

When a Black middle-class family in South Los Angeles is visited by a mysterious old friend from the South (Danny Glover), his presence casts a spell over the previously calm household. As the inscrutable Harry, Glover flickers between menace and charm, using his commanding presence to dominate the frame. A singular work that explores how Southern folkloric traditions traveled north during the Great Migration, this intimate drama subtly announces director Charles Burnett’s mastery of his craft. In 2017, the film was named to the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry, and in 2026 was named one of the best 101 films about L.A. by the Los Angeles Times.

Director/Screenwriter: Charles Burnett. With: Danny Glover, Paul Butler, Mary Alice, Carl Lumbly, Vonetta McGee, Richard Brooks, Sheryl Lee Ralph.