
JulianinheritsahouseinWestPhiladelphiafromhisgrandmotherandaskshisgirlfriendGwentomovein,althoughsheturnsouttobejustthefirstmemberofthecommunethatsetsuphomewithhimwithinitsbrightlycolouredwalls.Togetherwiththefoundingcouple,theseven-strongcollectivearesoonrecitingAfrican-Americanpoetry,readingpost-colonialtheory,holdingseminarsonSudaneselanguagesandenjoyingjazz-inflectedjamsessions,withthechestofmaterialsonthewiderBlackexperienceapparentlyleftbehindbythegrandmotherprovingperfectinspirationtothisend.WiththeprominentposterofGodard’sLachinoisehanginginthekitchen,it’stemptingtoreadtheirfunkilycerebralexploitsaspurefiction,yetthey’reactuallyareenactmentofAsili’sownexperiencesinaMarxistcommune.Reallifeinformsthefictionelsewheretoo,asmembersoftheMOVEOrganizationcometospeakatthehouse,thecameraalightsonsignificantsitesfortheBlackcommunityoutsideinthePhiladelphiastreetsandtheinevitablepettyargumentsabouthouserulesreartheirhead.Andmaybethat’sthepoint:theoryrubsupagainstpracticeandsparksdulyfly.
