Watch Space Is the Place

"Space Is the Place" may have been released in 1974, but watching it now feels like taking a journey into an alternative universe. The movie stars the eccentric jazz musician and philosopher Sun Ra as himself, a cosmic being who travels through space and time in a spaceship with his band, the Arkestra. The plot blends sci-fi, blaxploitation, and psychedelic music into a visually striking and mesmerizing experience.

The movie begins with Sun Ra arriving in Oakland, California, in the present day. He is met by a group of African American children, whom he invites to follow him on his spaceship. He then travels back in time to the 1940s, where he meets African Americans who are being exploited and discriminated against by white people. Sun Ra uses his music and philosophy to inspire them to fight for their rights, and he leads them to his spaceship.

From there, the plot becomes abstract and surreal, with Sun Ra travelling through space and encountering various otherworldly beings. One of them is the Overseer, a white man who claims to represent the white race and who challenges Sun Ra to a game of cards. The stakes are high, as the game will determine the fate of the African American people. Sun Ra ultimately wins and saves his people, but not before being transported to a different planet where he performs a stunning concert.

One of the most striking aspects of "Space Is the Place" is its use of color and visual effects. The movie has a dreamlike quality, with scenes blending into each other and colors shifting from muted to vibrant. The costumes are equally mesmerizing, with Sun Ra and his Arkestra wearing bright, futuristic outfits that look like they're made of recycled materials.

The movie also features some memorable music performances by Sun Ra and the Arkestra. Their music is a blend of jazz, funk, and experimental sounds that create an otherworldly vibe. The performances are shot with a grainy, lo-fi aesthetic that adds to the movie's overall surrealism.

Despite its sci-fi trappings, "Space Is the Place" is ultimately a movie about race, identity, and liberation. Sun Ra's philosophy is rooted in Afrofuturism, a movement that seeks to imagine a better future for African Americans through science fiction and speculative fiction. Sun Ra believed that black people had been oppressed for too long and that they needed to create their own reality, one that was free from the constraints of white supremacy.

"Space Is the Place" is not an easy movie to categorize, and it's not for everyone. Its plot jumps around and is sometimes difficult to understand, and its visuals and music can be overwhelming at times. But for those who are willing to take the journey, it's a unique and fascinating piece of cinema. It's a movie that demands repeat viewings, as there's always something new to discover in its rich, strange world.

In conclusion, "Space Is the Place" is a psychedelic journey through time and space that combines sci-fi, blaxploitation, and Afrofuturism into a visually striking and mesmerizing movie. With Sun Ra at the helm, the movie is a philosophical exploration of race, identity, and liberation, with music and visuals that are both unsettling and beautiful. If you're looking for something out of the ordinary and are willing to take the journey, "Space Is the Place" is a must-see movie.

Space Is the Place is a 1974 science fiction movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 25 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5.