Montu

This documentary pays tribute to the oft-overlooked legacy of African fighting arts in the Americas. The Montu Arts (forerunners to martial arts) and their derivatives were key elements of Black resistance movements, including the Haitian Revolution (the world’s only successful slave rebellion). In many cases, even the teaching of these techniques was banned. And with cannabis-infused pre-fight rituals, it’s no wonder that some styles were never fully-revealed to mainstream America. But, whether disguised as dance like capoeira or driven underground like musangwe (bare-knuckle boxing), they endured. And they adapted. Today, these traditions fuel Black preeminence in combat sports and are the focus of a renaissance in Los Angeles. This stylized film will tell the story through never-before-seen fight footage, urban hieroglyphics and the talking drum.

Directed by NA NA NA (USA)