The Learning Tree

Based on his own autobiographical novel, The Learning Tree was, according to Roger Ebert, the first non-exploitation feature film made for wide release by an African American director. Set in rural 1920s-1930s Kansas, the film follows the story of Newt (Kyle Johnson), a teenager who must weather the racial prejudices of the time on a daily basis. After witnessing a murder, Newt must weigh what he saw against what it could mean for others in the black community, including his childhood friend Marcus (Alex Clarke). Of all the films that Gordon Parks directed, The Learning Tree was both the most personal and also the one that most dramatically offers links between his work as a master of 20th century photography and his efforts in the cinema. Shot by Burnett Guffey (Bonnie and Clyde, From Here to Eternity), the look of the film attests to the visual acuity of both Parks and his well-seasoned cinematographer. (Portland International Film Festival)