Rain (Nyesha)
1978 · 0h 15m
Skip it tonight unless you're specifically hunting for experimental short films about political awakening. A 6.7 on IMDb signals this meditative piece is too niche and slow-burn for casual viewing—it's the kind of thing that works better as a film festival discovery than a Friday night pick.
Plot
Director Melvonna Ballenger’s Rain (Nyesha) shows how awareness can lead to a more fulfilling life. In the film, a female typist goes from apathetic to empowered through the help of a man giving out political fliers on the street. Using John Coltrane’s song “After the Rain,” Ballenger’s narration of the film meditates on rainy days and their impact. The rain in this short film doesn’t signify defeat, but offers renewal and “a chance to recollect, a cool out.”
Director: Melvonna Ballenger
Cast: Evlynne Braithwaite, Bernard Nicolas, Ijeoma Iloputaife, Michael Friend, Keith Williams