Special 13th Anniversary screening for Jerry LaMothe’s debut film, Amour InfinityPosted by Wilson Morales
May 16, 2013
Playing today at MIST Harlem is a special 13th Anniversary screening for Jerry LaMothe’s debut film, Amour Infinity (A Brooklyn Love Story).
Shot in 2000 and on a single DV camera (Canon XL1) for $45,000, Amour Infinity is regarded by many as an underground cult classic. Inspired by a trip to ABFF (then known as the Acapulco Black Film Festival in 1999) where he attended the actors boot camp ran by Bill Duke and Robert Townsend, Lamothe returned home to Brooklyn, where he would write, produce, direct and star in the film.
In the movie, the odds are stacked up against Derek, a young East Flatbush, Brooklyn man (Jerry LaMothe). He’s lost his job and his girlfriend of five years and the mother of his child just left him as well. Seeing no end to his streak of bad luck, he almost gives up until he stumbles across Amour (Jamie Burton-Oare), an old friend from high school. From then on, this urban tale of street life, hardships, and love begins to take shape. But as he attempts to prioritize fatherhood, love, loyalty, a son, and a secret, what will each cost him?
It film premiered to a sold out crowd at the Urbanworld Film Festival in 2000 and would win several film festival awards, experience a limited engagement in theaters, including a 2–day run at BAMcinematek courtesy of ABFF’s Film Life and air on several television networks, including ABC and TVOne.
Blackfilm.com interviewed LaMothe back in 2001 when the film hit theaters and he talked about how different is his film from the Hollywood films?
“I can only tell you what the people who have seen the film have said. When they saw “Amour Infinity”, they saw realism. They saw that it wasn’t tailored to have a Hollywood ending. It’s reality based. It’s really a slice of life. Looking at “Amour Infinity”, a writer once said, is like looking at a mirror. Looking at this film, you’re going to see people you identify with and people you can relate to. That’s the kind of reputation I would like to sustain as a filmmaker.”
LaMothe has since directed other films such as Nora’s Hair Salon and the independent film Blackout which starred an ensemble that included, Jeffrey Wright, Zoe Saldana, Melvin Van Peebles, Latanya Richardson-Jackson, Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Hector, Sean Blakemore, and Susan Kelechi Watson.
LaMothe is currently in pre-production on his 5th feature film, The Promise Keeper.
ActNow Foundation’s New Voices in Black Cinema and the Creatively Speaking Film Series are proud to present this special screening of Amour Infinity on the big screen to NYC audiences for the first time in close to a decade on May 16th at 4pm and 8pm at MIST Harlem – 46 West 116th Street in Harlem, NYC. Lamothe and special guests will be at the Q&A following the 8pm screening. Tickets are now available HERE. For more information go to ActNowproduction.org.
There will be a post-8pm screening Q&A with director Jerry LaMothe and other special guests
