SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Jewish Community Arts presents a Zoom discussion of One Night in Miami, a film by first-time director Regina King and screenplay by Kemp Powers, based on his 2013 play of the same name.
The program, held 7 p.m. on Feb. 13, is offered through a grant from the Jewish Federation of Northeast NY and sponsored by Temple Sinai of Saratoga.
The film is a fictionalized account of a February 1964 meeting of Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali (before he changed his name from Cassius Clay), Jim Brown and Sam Cooke in a room in a Miami motel celebrating Ali’s surprise boxing title win over Sonny Liston.
The four were actually friends and really did gather that night of February 25. However, what was said among the four is only imagined as a conversation among the four minds and their approach to civil rights activism.
“This “what if” scenario allows us to look in on four black legends openly and honestly debating one another, a rarity in and of itself,” said Phyllis Wang, Coordinator of Saratoga Jewish Community Arts, in a statement. “This is a deeply reflective film, big issues are presented, issues that have not gone away and we have a chance to be the fly on the wall in the room.”
What Cooke, Brown and Clay share is a desire for freedom, a determination to find independence from the businesses and institutions that seek to control them and profit from their talents.
The panel discussion of One Night in Miami will be held 7 p.m. Feb. 13. Registration required. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. www.saratogajewishculturalfestival.org www.saratogasinai.org
