Malcolm X (M) PRESENTED IN 35MM FILM

Malcolm X at The Revival House Perth

From his traumatic childhood witnessing his father's murder and his mother's institutionalization, through his years as Detroit Red—a street hustler, drug dealer, and criminal—to his transformative awakening in prison and emergence as one of America's most powerful and controversial voices, Spike Lee's epic chronicles the life of Malcolm Little (Denzel Washington). Joining the Nation of Islam under the mentorship of Elijah Muhammad (Al Freeman Jr.), Malcolm becomes Malcolm X, the movement's most charismatic spokesman, preaching black pride, self-defense, and separation from white America. But as his fame grows and his evolving philosophy begins to diverge from the Nation's teachings, Malcolm faces betrayal from within. His pilgrimage to Mecca opens his eyes to a more inclusive vision of Islam and humanity, leading him to become El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz—a transformation cut tragically short by assassination at age 39.

Spike Lee's 1992 masterwork is a towering achievement in biographical cinema, running over three hours yet never feeling its length. Denzel Washington delivers a tour-de-force performance that earned him an Oscar nomination, inhabiting Malcolm's physical presence, oratorical brilliance, and spiritual evolution with stunning authenticity. Lee's direction brings visual dynamism to Malcolm's journey, from the vibrant Harlem jazz clubs to the stark prison cells to the spiritual awakening in Mecca, photographed beautifully by Ernest Dickerson. The film doesn't shy away from Malcolm's contradictions and evolution, presenting a complex figure whose ideas about race, justice, and American society remain urgently relevant. Terence Blanchard's jazz-inflected score underscores the film's emotional power, while Lee ensures Malcolm's own words—drawn from his autobiography with Alex Haley—drive the narrative.

Original format and audio experience of this film faithfully reproduced by The Revival House. Presented in 35mm film unless noted otherwise.

When: Sunday, March 8th at 6:30PM
Where: The Revival House at the Como Theatre
Rating: M (Medium level violence, Low level coarse language)

By any means necessary—experience Lee's monumental portrait of Malcolm X's evolution from street hustler to revolutionary leader, in 35mm film.

Presented by: The Revival House Perth