A Love Song for Latasha facts for kids
Quick facts for kids A Love Song for Latasha |
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Film poster
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| Directed by | Sophia Nahli Allison |
| Produced by | Janice Duncan (Creative Producer) Fam Udeorji (Producer) Sophia Nahli Allison (Producer) Aubrey Aden-Buie (Executive Producer) Elisa Gambino (Executive Producer) |
| Starring | Shinese Harlins and Tybie O'Bard, Raigan Alex, Zoe Flint, Shinese Harlins, Brittany Hudson (as Irie Hudson), Tybie O'Bard, Londyn Sharp |
| Music by | Minna Choi |
| Cinematography | Sophia Nahli Allison |
| Editing by | Sophia Nahli Allison |
| Distributed by | Netflix |
| Release date(s) | April 2019 (Tribeca) September 21, 2020 |
| Running time | 19 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English (original), Turkish, French, Italian, German |
A Love Song for Latasha is a short documentary film from 2019. It was directed by Sophia Nahli Allison. This film tells the story of Latasha Harlins, a young Black girl from Los Angeles. It shares memories from her cousin and best friend. The film helps us imagine Latasha's life. It was even nominated for an Oscar for best short documentary!
Making the Film
Sophia Nahli Allison spent two years creating A Love Song for Latasha. She did many jobs for the film. She was the director, the person who filmed it, the editor, and a producer.
Sophia wanted to make a film about Latasha Harlins. Latasha's death in 1991 was a very important event. It helped lead to big protests in Los Angeles in 1992. Sophia felt it was important to remember Latasha's life.
She decided to work closely with Latasha's friends. Together, they shared stories about their childhoods. They talked about growing up in South Central Los Angeles. There were no home videos of Latasha. So, Sophia found other ways to tell her story. She used ideas from writers like Alice Walker.
What the Film is About
A Love Song for Latasha helps us imagine Latasha Harlins' life. She was a Black girl who died in Los Angeles in 1991. Her death was a big reason for the 1992 protests.
News channels often showed security camera footage of Latasha's death. But Sophia Allison's film does not use this footage. Instead, the film is full of bright, sunny scenes. It shows sidewalks and basketball courts. It uses clear animation and pictures of radiant Black girls. They are posed gracefully, like young queens.
The day Latasha died is shown using animation. It is mixed with old VHS tape static. This helps show that these are memories. The film focuses on Latasha's dreams and hopes. It tells her story through the loving memories of her cousin, Shinese Harlins, and her best friend, Tybie O'Bard.
Film Release
The film first showed at the Tribeca Film Festival. It was also shown at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. Famous director Ava DuVernay included the film in her Array 360 program. After that, Netflix picked it up. The film was released on Netflix on September 21, 2020.
Awards and Honors
- Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject nomination
- Cinema Eye Honors Award 2021: Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Short Filmmaking
- AFI Fest 2020: Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary Short
