Issue date: 2/6/09 Section: The Verge

A still from the film "Miracle at St. Anna." The film is about the all-black 92nd Infantry Division in World War II. It is based on the novel by James McBride, who also wrote the screenplay. (movies.yahoo.com)

As we observe National Black History Month, we are reminded of the many African-American heroes that made great sacrifices like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks.

At 7 p.m. today and Saturday in Buzzard Hall the University Board's movie-night film selection, "Miracle at St. Anna," brings a group of lesser-known African-American heroes to light.

"We thought it fit in very well with keeping up our movie variety with its drama/action," said Ryan Kerch, movies coordinator for University Board. "Additionally, it really works well with African American Heritage Month."

Directed by Spike Lee, who also directed "Inside Man" and "25th Hour," "Miracle at St. Anna" tells the story of the all-black 92nd Infantry Division.

The plot focuses on Hector Negron, along with three other soldiers, as they sneak into Italy and find refuge in the home of a family of Nazi resistors. The soldiers find an Italian boy and attempt to rescue him.

"It looks at racial history differently," said Robin Murray, a film and literature professor. "It's revealing a part of history that sometimes is missing... The 92nd Division shows a different perspective on the World War II setting."

One of Spike Lee's reasons for making the film, Murray said, was because of the lack of black soldiers in Clint Eastwood's recently released World War II films, "Flags of Our Fathers" and "Letters from Iwo Jima."

Murray said that though the movie wasn't perfect, it had some very good moments.

"Spike Lee is an excellent director," Murray said. "There were some spectacular shots... The scene in the southern diner where the Nazi prisoners are eating was a beautiful scene. The soundtrack was also excellent."

Murray said that the film had problems with length and it had a tendency to loose focus.

"[Lee] might have taken on too much at once," she said. "There were a lot of different storylines, which made the movie feel too busy."

The film is out of theaters but not yet on DVD. Students will have the chance to see this movie before the public.

"We work with a company called Swank Motion Pictures," Kerch said. "Which allows us to show the movies inside a window of when they can release it to us and when it comes out on DVD."

Funding for the University Board's movie-night comes from the student activity fee, making the film free for students to attend.

Average attendance for the movies, according to Kerch, is over 100.

Attendance for "Miracle at St. Anna" is predicted to be even more than that.

"We've gotten a lot of positive feedback," Kerch said. "People are really excited to see this movie."



More African-American Heritage Month events:

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