Merawi Gerima, a visionary filmmaker, emerges from the nation's capital, Washington DC, where his roots run deep and his connection to his community is unshakeable, influencing every aspect of his creative pursuits.
Haile Gerima's inaugural feature film, "Residue", represents a testament to the unwavering commitment and tireless efforts of the individuals who were instrumental in its creation, with the vast majority of the production process driven by their unrelenting dedication to honoring and preserving the very lives and legacies they sought to celebrate.
This ambitious and thought-provoking cinematic endeavor serves as a powerful and poignant archive of the lives of those individuals, offering a compelling and evocative response to the insidious forces of gentrification that pose a constant threat to their very existence and the cultural heritage they have worked so tirelessly to preserve.
Through "Residue", Gerima masterfully weaves a narrative that not only pays tribute to the individuals whose stories it tells, but also serves as a powerful indictment of the societal forces that seek to erase their existence and cultural significance, leaving behind only a faint residue of what once was.
