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A Black woman director in '81 made a heroin drama with zero budget and maximum soul.
TMDB
80
IMDb
60
Watch(US)

Will (1981)

gritty Harlem realnesslo-fi indie spiritfound family feels

Overview

Drama

A girls’ basketball coach battles a heroin addiction while mentoring a 12-year-old street kid adopted by Will and his wife.

Flag of USUS
Content warning
independent filmwoman directorbasketballaddictionharlem, new york citylow budgetheroin

Standout Aspects

Direction

Jessie Maple: first Black woman indie filmmaker with theatrical release.

Acting

Loretta Devine before fame, already devastating.

Best for:Solo: Late night when you need to feel something raw.·Rewatch: Study how Maple stretches $0 into poetry.
Heads up:Drug Use: Heroin use depicted without glamor; withdrawal scenes raw.
J

Director

Jessie Maple

ReleasedJan 1, 1981
Runtime1h 13m
StatusReleased

Vibe

Paceslow
Intensitymedium
Tonedark
Feelheavy
Budget$12K
Janus Films

Top Cast

Loretta Devine

Loretta Devine

Jean

Jesse D. Goins

Jesse D. Goins

Jewell

Dorothi Fox

Dorothi Fox

Lady Eating

Ask about Will

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Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

Cultural

Jessie Maple financed this by working as a tape editor at WABC—only the second Black woman in the union.

Insight

The 73-minute runtime wasn't artistic choice; that's how much film stock she could afford.

Gallery

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