Native Son

Set in contemporary Chicago but largely shot in Cleveland, Native Son, the directorial debut of visual artist Rashid Johnson, is an adaptation of Richard Wright's 1940 novel about the black experience in America. Ashton Sanders plays Bigger Thomas, who takes a job as live-in chauffeur for a wealthy white businessman and experiences as "seductive new world of money and power" before entering into a relationship with his boss's daughter (Margaret Qualley). The film shows tonight at 7 at the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque. Admission is free but tickets are required and donations will be accepted. A discussion will follow the screening. See the Cinematheque website for more info. (Niesel)