Jimmie Fails dreams of reclaiming the Victorian home his grandfather built in the heart of San Francisco. Joined on his quest by his best friend Mont, Jimmie searches for belonging in a rapidly changing city that seems to have left them behind. As he struggles to reconnect with his family and reconstruct the community he longs for, his hopes blind him to the reality of his situation.
A wistful odyssey populated by squatters, street preachers, playwrights, and other locals on the margins, “The Last Black Man in San Francisco” is a poignant and sweeping story of hometowns and how they’re made — and kept alive — by the people who love them.
From filmmaker Joe Talbot comes a lyrical and lovingly crafted ode to friendship, family, and the frustrations of living in a rapidly changing San Francisco. Born out of the filmmaker's childhood friendship with his lead actor and subject, who spent his early childhood living in a sprawling Victorian house, “The Last Black Man in San Francisco” is a feat of personal storytelling about the meaning and magic of home, the importance of community, and the stories we tell ourselves in order to become who we are. The story of one man trying to reclaim the house he grew up in, Talbot's feature debut is about finding peace within yourself, no matter where you live.
“A heartfelt tribute to both a city and a friendship.” — Benjamin Lee, The Guardian
“It moved my audience to audible tears.” — Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times
“Heart-skippingly gorgeous and exultant.” — Manohla Dargis, The New York Times