It’s said that only 12 people saw the original eight-hour version of this silent-era tragedy. San Francisco’s beautiful, and it’s got nothing to do with beatniks, or hippies or yuppies. “Anyone who can find themselves a street corner has got themselves a view. “I hate this city, but I love this city,” he tells her over a suddenly color-drenched shot of Mission Dolores Park with the downtown skyscrapers behind. The movie's most lasting line comes when Jo asks Micah if he even likes San Francisco. It’s a lonely, poignant little film - and very much of its time: The couple check each other’s MySpace profile, smoke cigarettes for fun and debate the most 2007 of San Francisco cultural wars: the Marina vs. Their philosophical conversations, calling to mind Richard Linklater’s “Before…” movies, dwell on the hypocrisy of a very liberal city with a very small Black demographic, among other things. The couple awkwardly battle a hangover and walk over Twin Peaks to find coffee, ride the carousel at Yerba Buena Gardens and shop at Rainbow Grocery while ruminating on what it means to be Black in San Francisco. Made for less than $20,000 over a period of 15 days in 2007, the story follows young Black couple Micah (Wyatt Cenac) and Jo (Tracey Heggins) the day after a drunken one-night stand at a random house party. 'Medicine for Melancholy' (2008)įor rent on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TVīefore director Barry Jenkins won the 2017 Oscar for best picture for “Moonlight” (the year “La La Land” famously didn’t win), he made this gorgeous little romance and cultural commentary set in black and white (with the occasional splash of color) on the streets of mid-2000s San Francisco. Here are a few of our favorites you may have missed that are worth streaming on a rainy night.

But some lesser-known movies shot here in the city have been forgotten over the years, one of which was seen by only 12 people in its original form.

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