Ralph Ellison´s King of the Bingo Game

Harlem, 1943. Sonny is a struggling African American who frequents the movie house/bingo parlour in a desperate attempt to provide for his family in Depression era New York. He hits the jackpot and is called onstage to spin the prize wheel. As he pushes the button to spin the wheel, he experiences a new sense of control over his destiny that transcends his race and social standing, and he is unable to let go. Based on a short story, Ralph Ellison´s King of the Bingo Game is a chilling metaphor for the disenfranchisement of the African American community after Emancipation promised freedom and before the Civil Rights Movement called that promise to task. This historical drama features strong production values, fine acting, good editing and an inventive adaptation of a short story - all on a fairly tight budget. The film employs a creative use of sound and imagery to express the emotional state of the main character. A compact drama that moves very quickly.