Alma’s Rainbow is a coming-of-age comedy-drama about three Black women living in Brooklyn. Ayoka Chenzira’s feature film explores the life of teenager Rainbow Gold (Victoria Gabrielle Platt) who is entering womanhood and navigating conversations and experiences around standards of beauty, self-image, and the rights women have over their bodies. Rainbow attends a strict parochial school, studies dance, and is just becoming aware of boys. She lives with her strait-laced mother Alma Gold (Kim Weston-Moran), who runs a beauty parlor in the parlor of their home. When Alma’s free-spirited sister Ruby (Mizan Kirby) arrives from Paris after a 10-year absence, the sisters clash over what constitutes the “proper” direction Rainbow’s life should take. Alma has fooled herself into believing she has no need of male companionship and advises her daughter to follow her example. Ruby encourages both her niece and her sister to embrace life – and love – fully and joyfully. Alma’s Rainbow highlights a multi-layered Black women’s world where the characters live, love, and wrestle with what it means to exert and exercise their agency. Restoration by the Academy Film Archive, The Film Foundation, and Milestone Films. Restoration supervised by Mark Toscano. Funding provided by the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation.
For thoughts on Alma’s Rainbow, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
Video Quality
Alma’s Rainbow debuts on Blu-Ray courtesy of The Milestone Cinematheque and Kino Classics with a digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer that is derived from a brand new 4K restoration digitally restored by the Academy Film Archive, The Film Foundation, and Milestone Films. This has long been a more under-the-radar film that mostly existed in the realm of experts of Black independent cinema, and it is incredible to have this looking so great in high definition. The presentation perfectly maintains the natural 35mm film aesthetic throughout with image stability and delineation being very strong. This transfer maintains the natural film grain of the presentation that is resolved well with a refined look rather than a clumpy or frozen mess.
This film has a more fantastical feel with some throwback aesthetics mixed with modernity in a way that is visually striking. Instances of print damage such as nicks and scratches have all been cleaned up immensely with overall clarity and detail looking terrific. It is rare that you will find any minor blemishes that have made it through the restoration gauntlet. This is by far the best the film has looked. Colors are well saturated with the vibrant hues coming through in a lovely way. Skin tones are natural and consistent with subtle features easily noticeable in closeup. Black levels hold up pretty well with no major instances of crush or banding that we observed. This is a deluxe presentation for a film that really deserved such consideration. .
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray comes with a very enjoyable DTS-HD 5.1 and 2.0 Master Audio track that serves this film really well. Dialogue and background elements are represented in harmony with all tertiary competing sounds even with the mixture of different environments. This disc maintains a formidable sense of fidelity that is appreciated. This track shows no discernible age related wear and tear such as hissing or popping. All of the sound effects and music appear to be faithful to the original intent. The music establishes a lively atmosphere as it spreads through the room perfectly. Even with the strength of this element, nothing ever overpowers the dialogue or other important information. There are also optional English (SDH) subtitles included for the feature film. This release has delivered with this audio track.
Special Features
Disc One
- Panel Discussion at the Brooklyn Academy of Music: A 45-minute discussion from the premiere of the 4K restoration of the film in June 2022 which begins with an introduction Ayoka Chenzira in which she discusses the overwhelming nature of the film getting a second life before moving on to a Q&A moderated by Jesse Trussell with Chenzira, Ronald Gray, Jean Paul Bourelly, Sydney Kai Inis, Mizan Kirby-Nunes, Kim Westron-Moran, Victoria Platt and Peggy Dillard Toone. The discussion touches on a great number of topics including the origin of the project, finding the actors for this project, working with both professionals and non-professionals, the restoration process, the importance of the feature on their lives, the film’s legacy and more.
- Ayoka Chenzira on Alma’s Rainbow: A 39-minute interview with the director from February 2020 in which she discusses the genesis of Alma’s Rainbow, the themes of the project, the attempts to raise money for the feature, the specific stylistic intentions for the characters, the music of the film, losing performers to bigger opportunities, the collaborative process and more.
- Behind The Scenes on Alma’s Rainbow: A four-minute piece with Production Designer Peggy Dillard Toone in which she discusses her work on the film, the original furnishing of the location, how they created the artwork, the personal nature of many of the items and more.
- Trailer: The minute-and-a-half trailer is provided for Alma’s Rainbow.
Disc Two – Short Films By Ayoka Chenzira
- Short Films: A diverse array of works from Ayoka Chenzira is provided here which encompasses documentary and narrative short films both in live action and animation. Many of these are centered on the Black experience or overlooked Black talent that deserves a spotlight. Most of these appear to have been remastered and look quite nice.
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- Syvilla: They Dance To Her Drum (1979) (22:10)
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- Hair Piece: A Film For Nappyheaded People (1984) (10:25)
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- The Lure and The Lore (1988) (14:59)
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- Zajota and the Boogie Spirit (1989) (18:46)
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- Pull Your Head To The Moon: Stories of Creole Women (1992) (13:28)
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- Williamswood (1992) (16:35)
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- MOTV (My Own TV) (1993) (56:40)
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- Snowfire (1994) (8:00)
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- In The Rivers of Mercy Angst (1996) (21:10)
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- HERadventure (2013) (30:56)
- Oral Histories: A selection of audio interviews with Ayoka Chenzira conducted by Jacqueline Steward courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in which the director discusses the background of some of her most important works. This is a great bit of history that should be listened to if you want to tap into the greater meaning behind these works.
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- Hair Piece (10:15)
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- In The Rivers of Mercy Angst (6:40)
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- Syvilla (21:48)
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- Zajota and the Boogie Spirit (12:12)
Final Thoughts
Alma’s Rainbow is a really exciting, overlooked gem of the early ‘90s which deserves way more attention than it ever received. Ayoka Chenzira delivers an emotionally honest coming-of-age tale which subverts conventions in a manner that broke new ground. Beyond being of great cultural and historical significance, the film is simply entertaining and evokes many complex feelings within the viewer. The Milestone Cinematheque and Kino Classics have helped rescue this one from obscurity with a new Blu-Ray with a terrific A/V presentation and a really expansive selection of special features. If you are in the market for a terrific slice of independent cinema, do not pass this by. Recommended
Alma’s Rainbow is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: The Milestone Cinematheque and Kino Classics have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.