'Black Films'

'Sapphire' (1959)

'Sapphire' directed by Basil Dearden and produced by Michael Relph is about the 'graphic portrayal of ethnic tensions in 1950s London'. 'Sapphire' is famous because it showcases a successful, middle-class black community - unusual even in today's British films. Small incidents of purity, for example a small child on a scooter ridding to Dr Robbins, add light to a very dark film, because children are seen to be ‘innocent’, so by adding this to the film it draws the audiences attention away from the raciest and bigotry portrayed in this film. Sapphire was made shortly after the 1958 Notting Hill riots.

'Boyz N The Hood' (1991)

This film was directed by John Singleton. Starring Cuba Gooding Jr. Ice Cube, Laurence Fishburne, Angela Bassett, Regina King, Nia Long, and Morris Chestnut, the film depicts life in crime-ridden South Central, Los Angeles, California, and was filmed and released shortly before the 1992 Los Angeles Riots.It was nominated for both Best Director and Original Screenplay during the 1991 Academy Awards, making John Singleton the youngest person ever nominated for Best Director and the first African-American to be nominated for the award. The film's title is taken from the name of an N.W.A (a famous rap group) song, "Boyz-n-the-Hood".

Here's the trailer to 'Boyz N The Hood'

'Menace II Society' (1993)

‘Menace II Society’ is an American film directed by twin brothers Allen and Albert Hughes. The film debuted at the Cannes Film Festival and was released in the United States on May 28, 1993. The film gained a bad reputation as it used frequent sadistic violence and crude language. Despite mixed reviews, Menace II Society was still highly-praised for its gritty portrayal of urban violence and its powerful underlying messages.

“The film takes place in Watts, a high crime suburb of L.A. and follows the life of 18-year-old Caine "Kaydee" Lawson, during a long summer after his high school graduation. Although he is a drug-dealer, Caine has a number of qualities; he lives with his loving grandparents, and with his recently completed high school education, has a number of doors open to him. He financially and emotionally supports a close female friend who is a single mother. Most of Caine's friends - in particular, the homicidally trigger-happy Kevin ("O-Dog") - all seem to be heading towards either jail or an early grave, and are threatening to take Caine with them."

Here's the trailer to 'Menace II Society'

'City Of God' (2002)

‘Cidade de Deus’ (‘City of God’) is a Brazilian film, released in its home country in 2002 and worldwide in 2003. It was adapted by Bráulio Mantovani from the 1997 novel of the same name written by Paulo Lins which both the film and the book are based on a true story; the war between Knockout Ned and Li'l Zé is based on their real life counterparts. It was directed by Kátia Lund and Fernando Meirelles. It stars Alexandre Rodriguez, Leandro Firmino da Hora, Jonathan Haagensen, Douglas Silva and Seu Jorge. The tagline is “Fight and you'll never survive..... Run and you'll never escape.” Most of these actors had never acted before, and were, in fact, residents of favelas such as Vidigal and the Cidade de Deus itself.

This is the original trailer made for the Brazilian public: