Charles Burnett, one of the great American directors of the past half-century, was central to the LA Rebellion school that brought the hard-nosed reality of Black American life to the screen. Yet one of his greatest films, The Annihilation of Fish, starring James Earl Jones, Lynn Redgrave and Margot Kidder, is a delightful comedy about love, life, and growing older.
Playfully ruminating on ageing and romance via the guise of a sweet, sincere comedy, The Annihilation of Fish follows two eccentric tenants of an apartment building (Earl Jones and Redgrave). One has recently been released from a mental institution for fighting with a figment of his imagination, the other has recently broken up with her ‘lover’: the long-dead 19th Century composer Puccini.
As the two grow closer together, Burnett uncovers their unique humanity amidst a host of hi jinks and whimsical humour, in a truly delightful comedy not seen on the the big screen in the UK in more than two decades, and which proves a fitting tribute to the late, great James Earl Jones.
A 4K restoration by UCLA Film & Television Archive and The Film Foundation with funding provided by the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation. This film screens as part of Cinema Rediscovered. Dedicated to the rediscovery and revival of great films, Cinema Rediscovered’s touring programme is supported by the BFI awarding funds from the National Lottery. You can find out more about Cinema Rediscovered here.
