Two Black couples in Chicago live parallel lives in this lyrical time-centric romance directed by Zeinabu irene Davis. Compensation follows Malindy, a dressmaker in 1910 and a graphic designer in the Nineties, played by the same pioneering deaf actress, Michelle A. Banks. Arthur, alternately a migrant from Mississippi and a children’s librarian, is played by John Earl Jelks, and 80 years apart, each couple has a different meet-cute on the banks of Lake Michigan. It’s shot in silent film style, using ragtime piano to evoke the early 20th century scenes, and R&B grooves to evoke the Nineties, and includes closed captioning throughout, though Arthur speaks and Malindy signs. Gently portraying the struggles of the Black community and the deaf community throughout time, this independent gem is finally getting a theatrical run after being entered into the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry last year. – Lina Fisher
April 20 & 23