Alma's Rainbow

What Alma's Rainbow lacks in shapeliness of script, it makes up for in the common sense and uncommon humor of its principals.

Directed by Ayoka Chenzira, Alma’s Rainbow intelligently explores the relationships among the three women as they grapple with their sexuality.

The movie's real pleasures are its digressive, bubbly interludes.

It fails more often than it succeeds, but its heart is in the right place.

Alma’s Rainbow is about... sisterhood, in all its twisted and occasionally destructive permutations. The film may be flawed, but it does has something to say.

Chenzira and cinematographer Ronald K. Gray use the camera to showcase the many ways in which Black women move, collectively and individually, to express various emotions and moods including attraction, joy, and confidence.

At once personal and universally relatable.

That, no matter the era, humans have always had dreams, felt misunderstood by their parents, and tried their best to make sense of this indescribable world. Alma’s Rainbow is timeless.

Alma's Rainbow is ambitious and occasionally fun. Unfortunately, director Chenzira's meandering script becomes diluted and confusing when it should have simplified an essentially interesting story.

Alma’s Rainbow‘s restoration was overseen by the Academy Film Archive, Film Foundation and Milestone Films and it’s presented by Julie Dash. The quality of work is worthy of all of those big names.