SWEET SWEETBACK'S BAAD ASSSSS SONG

[The Burgomaster]

I recently got this DVD (see my other "blaxploitation" thread).  I have wanted to see it for years because it is the movie that supposedly launched the "blaxploitation" genre.  The opening credits say, "starring the black community."

The plot is fairly simple: Sweet Sweetback is a stud who performs live sex shows in an inner city whorehouse.  When he witnesses two white cops beating up another black man, he pummels the cops with a pair of handcuffs, and then goes on the run.

The movie did not receive an MPAA rating, but part of the ad campaign said that it was "rated X by an all white jury."  (This is also written on the DVD cover).  The fairly explicit (but not hardcore) sex scenes would probably earn this movie an NC-17 by today's standards.

This movie is definitely not for everyone.  It uses a lot of off-beat camera work, editing techniques, etc.  I can honestly say that I did not understand what was happening in some scenes because of the unusual film techniques that were used to tell the story.  I was often left wondering if what I was seeing was really happening, or a flashback, or just someone's imagination, or maybe a bit of symbolism.  Parts of this movie definitely require multiple viewings to comprehend.

In my opinion, every blaxploitation fan should see this at least once for historical purposes.  But, as I said, the way the movie is put together will not appeal to all tastes.  I suspect that many people would turn it off after about 20 minutes.  I have a feeling that I will enjoy it more and more (and understand it more and more) with each repeated viewing.