Black & White

An independent feature film, set in Newark, NJ, from 1939-1992, Black & White is the powerful story of a friendship between two young men, one white, the other black. Told in flashback from the perspective of Pat Corelli (Nick Furris), an aging, embittered Italian-American, the story begins in 1939 when Pat and his best friend Jacob Branch (Kim Delgado) are young kids. Initially, the racist remarks concerning Pat's friendship with Jake don't faze the boys. Joined by an intense love of baseball in general and Joe DiMaggio in particular, the relationship remains strong until the pair enter adolescence. One night, a drunken Pat and his high school friends chase and beat up blacks for fun, and Jake, bitter and disappointed in his best friend's disgusting behavior cuts him loose. Although the boys eventually patch up their differences a larger divide looms immediately ahead: the Korean War. Here, Pat's disillusionment with the world begins in earnest, culminating in horrific tragedy when Pat and Jake return stateside and take a trip to North Carolina. Not without its flaws, Black & White is sometimes shamelessly sentimental and the acting is occasionally rough around the edges. The story is also clearly second string to the racial theme, and the former is sometimes forcefully bent to serve the latter. Still, the recreation of Newark street life circa the 1940's is impressive, the black and white cinematography crisp, the direction by Stephen Vittoria stylish, and the ugliness of racism vividly portrayed. Since the period is authentically rendered, the film is filled with racial epithets and obscenities, and would merit an "R" if it were rated. Recommended. (R. Pitman)