THE REVIVAL: WOMEN AND THE WORD

In October 2012 a group of queer-identifying women artists of color embarked on the eight-city Revival Poetry Tour. Each performance on the tour functioned as a welcoming space for these musicians and poets to share stories and build community in the tradition of the intimate literary salons popular in mid-70s New York City. Sekiya Dorsett’s riveting, uplifting road documentary, THE REVIVAL: WOMEN AND THE WORD, follows this core group of creatives as they perform in coffeehouses, a black gay and lesbian bar, and even a church. In addition to showcasing candid discussions about racial issues, sexuality, and identity, the film highlights the artists themselves: songwriter Be Steadwell, who performs intricate “queer pop music” on her acoustic guitar; English teacher T’ai Freedom Ford, who performs her poetry for the first time in front of her mother; and restless talent Jonquille Rice, who throws caution to the wind, job-wise, to hop in the van. THE REVIVAL: WOMEN AND THE WORD is a compelling look at the life-altering power of language. —A.Z.