| Black Is King | |
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| Distributed by | Disney+[1] |
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Running time | 85 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Black Is King is a 2020 American musical film co-written, executive produced, and directed by Beyoncé.[4] It is a visual companion to the 2019 album The Lion King: The Gift, curated by Beyoncé for the film The Lion King (2019).[5]
The film tells the story of a young African prince (Folajomi Akinmurele) who is exiled from his kingdom after his father's death. As he grows into a man (Nyaniso Dzedze), he undergoes a journey of self-identity, using the guidance of his ancestor (Beyoncé), childhood love (Nandi Madida), and his own subconscious (Stephen Ojo) to reclaim his throne. The prince's journey acts as an allegory for the African diaspora's journey of discovering, reclaiming and celebrating their culture and heritage, which is echoed by the inclusion of spoken-word poetry that focuses on the question of black identity.
Black Is King was in production for over a year, across six countries on three continents. Beyoncé wanted to recruit a diverse cast and crew and to provide opportunities for new talent. The music, dances, costumes, hairstyles, and sets were designed to showcase the beauty and richness of the cultures in the African continent and diaspora. The film was released globally on Disney+ on July 31, 2020, and was aired the following day across Sub-Saharan Africa on M-Net and Canal+ Afrique and across the Middle East and North Africa on OSN. An extended version of "Black Parade" was used for the film's credits, and was included in a deluxe edition of The Gift released alongside the film.
The film received praise for Beyoncé's direction, the cinematography, score, costume design, subject matter, and cultural themes. It received six nominations at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, including Best Music Film. "Brown Skin Girl" won the award for Best Music Video, while "Black Parade" won the award for Best R&B Performance. It was Beyoncé's 28th Grammy win, making her the most awarded singer and female artist in Grammy history. The film also won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Costumes for a Variety, Nonfiction, or Reality Program at the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k DeFore, John (July 31, 2020). "'Black Is King': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (June 28, 2020). "Beyoncé Visual Album 'Black Is King' Coming to Disney Plus". Variety. Archived from the original on October 4, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
- ^ Moreau, Jordan (July 19, 2020). "Beyoncé Releases Trailer for 'Black Is King' Visual Album on Disney Plus (Watch)". Variety. Archived from the original on July 27, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
- ^ "Review: Beyoncé's 'Black Is King' reimagines 'The Lion King' as abstract tribute to Black power, beauty and wisdom". Los Angeles Times. August 1, 2020. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
- ^ Robinson, Zandria Felice (August 15, 2020). "Beyoncé's Search for Home Continues on 'Black Is King'". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2020.