'Sinners': The blues-sucking vampire
Western fiction has been conjuring vampires for two centuries. If they emerge from their tombs, it's primarily to scare. But as far back as we can trace them in literature and film, these undead creatures have been more than just the source of night terrors. In the time of Bram Stoker (1847-1912), the Irish creator of Dracula, the vampire symbolized the lurking threat posed by immigrants – including noble lineages from the continent – to the purity of women and blood. In the early 21 st century, the persecution of Southern vampires in the series True Blood mirrored the struggles of the LGBTQ+ community in the United States.
Ryan Coogler has given them an unprecedented task in Sinners, his fifth feature film, released in French cinemas on April 16. Far from the erotic metaphors usually associated with vampirism, the creatures that appear halfway through the film are the bearers of a political and cultural project that clashes with the efforts of the protagonists of Sinners, the brothers 'Smoke' and 'Stack' Moore (both played by Michael B. Jordan). These African American gangsters are determined to open a juke joint (a venue for African Americans to drink alcohol and play blues) near Clarksdale, Mississippi, in 1932, a few months before the repeal of Prohibition and three decades before the end of segregation in the Southern states.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Euronews
23-05-2025
- Euronews
Bono speaks out against Hamas and Benjamin Netanyahu for first time
U2's Bono has spoken out against Hamas, Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli 'far-right fundamentalists' at the 2025 Ivor Novello Awards last night. U2 became the first Irish act to receive the Fellowship of the Ivors Academy, the highest honour that the organisation bestows. The band took to the stage to accept the honour, with frontman Bono calling for peace in the Gaza-Israel conflict. 'I used to introduce this next song by saying it was not a rebel song. It was because believing in the possibilities of peace was then, and is now, a rebellious act; and some would say a ridiculous one,' said Bono – referring to the U2 song 'Sunday Bloody Sunday', their 1983 track about the 1972 massacre in which the British army shot at unarmed protestors during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, killing 14 people. 'To believe peace was attainable between your country and ours, between our country and itself was a ridiculous idea because peace creates possibilities in the most intractable situations and lord knows there's a few of them out there right now,' he added. He then said: 'Hamas, release the hostages, stop the war. Israel, be released from Benjamin Netanyahu and the far-right fundamentalists that twist your sacred texts,' before adding: 'All of you, protect our aid workers – they are the best of us." He concluded by saying: "God, you must be so tired of us, children of Abraham, in the rubble of our certainties. Children in the rubble of our revenge. God forgive us.' The comments mark the first time the human rights activist has spoken out in public against the Israeli prime minister since the war in Gaza broke out in October 2023. Bono's speech also comes at a time when Western leaders have been criticising Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli authorities over the renewed offensive in Gaza.
France 24
22-05-2025
- France 24
Courting controversy, Irish rap trio Kneecap face legal action
Their combustible turbo-charged music, promotion of the Irish language and championing of the Palestinian cause have powered their popularity in Ireland and gained them legions of fans abroad. But the trio have landed in legal trouble over their alleged support for the Palestinian militant group Hamas and the Iran-backed Lebanese force Hezbollah, as well as calls for the killing of British parliamentarians. Formed in 2017 by Liam Og O Hannaidh, 27, Naoise O Caireallain, 30, and JJ O Dochartaigh, 34, Kneecap burst onto the scene the same year with the single "CEARTA" (Irish for "rights"). The song, released soon after a controversy about rights for Irish language speakers in Northern Ireland, was pulled from a radio show playlist by Irish state broadcaster RTE for its references to drug-taking and swearing. All three band members were raised in Irish -- a minority language in Ireland where English dominates -- and are fluent speakers. Last year the group was catapulted to international fame by a semi-fictionalised film that won multiple awards including at the prestigious Sundance festival. Partly in Irish as well as English, the movie, laced with music, drugs, and biting satire, also made shortlists for Oscar nominations in the best international feature film and best original song categories. The UK's Independent newspaper gave it top marks, calling it "a sweary, crude, and brilliantly political Irish comedy". O'Hanna, known by his stage name Mo Chara, told AFP as they performed at the Coachella festival in April in California that the group had been surprised by the film's success. For Kneecap, rapping in Irish is an act of resistance: the ancient language was long suppressed, and only became officially recognised in Northern Ireland in 2022. "Storytelling is such a massive part of Irish culture," Chara said. "It's always passed down orally, same as any Indigenous language." History "is always written by the winner. That's where hip hop stems from -- it's the story of the people who never got to tell their story," he said. Provocative Controversy has accompanied Kneecap throughout its journey, with critics accusing the band of glamourising drug culture and militant anti-British Irish republicanism. And O'Hanna has now been charged with a terror offence for allegedly brandishing a Hezbollah flag at a London concert. The band's name recalls the widespread practice by paramilitary groups of shooting victims in the kneecaps and legs in so-called "punishment" attacks, during Northern Ireland's three-decade-long conflict, known as the Troubles. In the British-governed region, violence between pro-Irish unity and pro-UK militants largely ended after a peace agreement in 1998, but inter-community divisions persist and Kneecap's confrontational imagery and lyrics rankle with some. One of their tracks is titled "Get Your Brits Out" while on stage the band has led anti-British chants. O'Dochartaigh, a former schoolteacher, wears a paramilitary-style balaclava on stage, in the green, white and orange of the Irish tricolour flag. Kneecap's fierce support for the Palestinian cause, with hardline anti-Israel slogans and chants at their gigs, has drawn fire from further afield. Last month, messages displayed on a screen behind the band as it performed in California at Coachella, one of the world's highest-profile music festivals, included: "Fuck Israel. Free Palestine". Sharon Osborne, a former UK television presenter, called for their US work visas to be revoked and likened the band to a "Hamas fan club". Videos then resurfaced from past London gigs showing chants apparently in support of Hamas and Hezbollah -- banned organisations in the UK -- and a call to kill UK MPs. The furore forced Kneecap onto the defensive, with a public apology issued to the families of murdered MPs Jo Cox, killed in June 2016, and David Amess, stabbed to death in October 2021. The band's members have also repeatedly denied ever having supported Hamas or Hezbollah. The row has raised doubts over a series of European and US concerts the band has scheduled this summer. Several of their gigs have already been cancelled, including three in Germany and one in the UK. The British government called on the organisers of the Glastonbury festival to "think carefully" about the band's planned appearance there in late June.
France 24
22-05-2025
- France 24
Irish rappers Kneecap deny Hezbollah support after terror charge
The Iran-backed Lebanese force Hezbollah and the Palestinian militant group Hamas are banned in the UK and it is an offence to support them. "We deny this 'offence' and will vehemently defend ourselves. This is political policing. This is a carnival of distraction," the band said on X. Liam O'Hanna, 27, known by his stage name Mo Chara, was charged late on Wednesday with showing support for a proscribed group during a performance on November 21. Daring provocateurs to their fans, dangerous extremists to their detractors, the Belfast group rap in the Irish language as well as English. They have courted controversy since they were formed in 2017. Last year the group was catapulted to international fame by a semi-fictionalised film, partly in Irish, partly in English, that won multiple awards including at the prestigious Sundance festival. The movie, which is laced with music, drugs and biting satire, also made shortlists for Oscar nominations in the best international feature film and best original song categories. London's Metropolitan Police said officers from its Counter Terrorism Command launched an investigation after a video of the London event in November surfaced online last month. In its statement, Kneecap attacked the "establishment" for trying to focus attention elsewhere while the population of Gaza suffered, and accused Israel of committing genocide. "We are not the story. Genocide is. As they profit from genocide, they use an 'anti-terror law' against us for displaying a flag thrown on stage." The charge follows growing scrutiny of Kneecap's performances after footage circulated online showing political statements made by the band on stage. One video appeared to show a band member shouting: "Up Hamas, up Hezbollah." Confrontational style The band, known for its confrontational style and Irish nationalist, pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel messaging, has denied supporting violence or banned groups. In April they debuted at the Coachella music festival in California, which band member DJ Provai said was another "milestone" for the group, whose signature look is wearing balaclavas. They said they had been surprised by the success of the film. But Mo Chara told AFP in April: "It's an international story of languages being oppressed, because obviously the first protocol for colonialism is to eradicate the language and the culture." Another video clip under investigation by London police appears to show the band urging an audience to kill British Conservative MPs. Kneecap later issued an apology to the families of Labour Party MP Jo Cox, who was killed in 2016, and Conservative lawmaker David Amess, who was killed in 2021. The rows have turned attention on concert promoters, with a slew of European and US dates lined up for the group this summer. The trio were also scheduled to perform at a festival in London on Friday. It was not immediately clear if that concert would go ahead. Several of their gigs have already been cancelled, including three in Germany and one in the UK, while the British government has urged the Glastonbury festival organisers to "think carefully" about the band's planned appearance there next month. Kneecap's manager Dan Lambert said there was a coordinated campaign to target Kneecap for their outspoken views on Israel's offensive on Gaza. Israel has repeatedly denied charges of genocide in the occupied Palestinian territory. Prominent British musicians and groups including Paul Weller, Massive Attack, Brian Eno, Pulp and Primal Scream have also defended Kneecap and signed a letter denouncing a "concerted attempt to censor and de-platform Kneecap".
