Looking for Langston
Synopsis
A black and white, fantasy-like recreation of high-society gay men during the Harlem Renaissance, with archival footage and photographs intercut with a story. A wake is going on, with mourners gathered around a coffin. Downstairs is an elegant bar where tuxedoed men dance and talk. One of them has a dream in which he comes upon Beauty, who seems to reject him, although when he awakes, Beauty is sleeping beside him. His story and his visits to the jazz and dance club are framed by voices reading from the poetry and essays of Hughes and others. The text is rarely explicit, but the freedom of gay Black men in the 1920s in Harlem is suggested and celebrated visually.
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Release History & Theatrical Window
October 31, 1989
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Isaac Julien
- Screenplay & Story
- Isaac Julien
- Original Score
- Peter Spencer, Wayson Jones, Trevor Mathison
- Original Title
- Looking for Langston
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 45m
- Production Studios
- BFI, Sankofa Film & Video
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Isaac Julien
Isaac Julien
Peter Spencer, Wayson Jones, Trevor Mathison
Nina Kellgren
Robert Hargreaves
Nadine Marsh-Edwards
Department Leadership Roster
Isaac Julien
Director
Nina Kellgren
Director of Photography
Nadine Marsh-Edwards
Producer
Peter Spencer
Original Music Composer
Robert Hargreaves
Editor
Isaac Julien
Screenplay
Wayson Jones
Original Music Composer
Trevor Mathison
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Looking for Langston.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Looking for Langston.
Abstrusest 2
MovieLens[30K:40K]
list0
1989
1989
Harvard University's Suggested Narrative Film Viewing List
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Frequently Asked Questions About Looking for Langston
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Looking for Langston about?
A black and white, fantasy-like recreation of high-society gay men during the Harlem Renaissance, with archival footage and photographs intercut with a story. A wake is going on, with mourners gathered around a coffin. Downstairs is an elegant bar where tuxedoed men dance and talk. One of them has a dream in which he comes upon Beauty, who seems to reject him, although when he awakes, Beauty is sleeping beside him. His story and his visits to the jazz and dance club are framed by voices reading from the poetry and essays of Hughes and others. The text is rarely explicit, but the freedom of gay Black men in the 1920s in Harlem is suggested and celebrated visually.
Who directed Looking for Langston?
Looking for Langston was directed by Isaac Julien.
Who stars in Looking for Langston?
The principal cast of Looking for Langston includes Ben Ellison, Matthew Baidoo, Akim Mogaji, John Wilson, Dencil Williams.
When was Looking for Langston released and how long is it?
Looking for Langston was released in 1989 with a total runtime of 45m.
Who composed the musical score for Looking for Langston?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Looking for Langston was composed by Peter Spencer, Wayson Jones, Trevor Mathison.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Looking for Langston?
Looking for Langston holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).