Ganja & Hess: Underground Black Classic words by Jamie Bowers "I work for Dr. Hess. He's an addict. He's not a criminal. He's a victim. He's addicted to blood." So begins the narrative of Ganja & Hess- a horror film released in 1973 that is steeped in controversy, widely misunderstood, and heralded by a passionate fan-base as the "greatest underground classic of Black film." Ganja & Hess, written and directed by Bill Gunn, was panned by American critics, given a standing ovation at the 1973 Cannes Film Festival, chopped up and re-released in five bastardized versions, and kept in the vaults of the Museum of Modern Art for over a decade. Why all the controversy? To begin with, the film demands much from its audience because its abstract narrative is quite difficult to comprehend. Some say viewers must consciously resist the need to analyze the film in a linear, logical manner. It can only be experienced on an emotional, base, visual level. Secondly, the prejudices of American film critics in the 70's kept them from recognizing Gunn's work as a masterpiece, even after it was praised by French critics and championed by Josephine Baker. Finally, this enigmatic and challenging film was poorly advertised and found no audience with viewers hungry for blaxploitation fodder like Blacula & Coffy. So, what is it about? Well, that's the tricky part. It is a vampire movie in the loosest sense of the term. It's about a man who is immortal, but must consume human blood to survive. But it is also about addiction, unsatisfied desires, shame, the duality of Black identity in America, faith, longing and class warfare. Writers Tim Lucas and David Walker say Ganja & Hess is about "the devouring of Black culture by a dominant White Christian society, the absorption of Black artifacts by White institutions, and the residual effects of emotional withdrawal or depletion on survivors of distant or depleted cultures." Quite heavy. Here's a quick synopsis that won't spoil the experience: