Academy films honor
Black History Month

This month, the Doris Duke Theatre at the Honolulu Academy of Arts kicks off with films honoring Black History Month. Below are the movies of the Pan-African/African-American Diaspora Film Series:

» "She's Gotta Have it" (1986): Spike Lee's debut not only helped usher in the American independent film movement of the '80s, it was a groundbreaker for depicting blacks as intelligent, upscale urbanites. At 7:30 p.m. Feb. 1 and 2, and 1 p.m. Feb. 2. Rated R.

» "Baadasssss!" (2004): Mario Van Peebles directs and stars in this tribute to his father Melvin's seminal low-budget 1971 flick "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song." Intercutting brief clips from the original with re-creations, the film recounts the trial the elder Van Peebles endured to finance and film his pioneering indie effort. At 1 p.m. Feb. 3, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 4 and 7, and 4 p.m. Feb. 6. Rated R.

» "Susana Baca, Memoria Viva" (2003) and "Candombe" (1993): Singer Baca is the champion in the performance and preservation of her Afro-Peruvian heritage. The lando song form is her trademark, a highly evocative mix of Spanish, African and indigenous rhythms that is the sound of "Black Peru." Candombe is an important social and cultural legacy from the forefathers of slaves in Uruguay. That film documents the efforts of Fernando Nunez and his friends to preserve this legacy. At 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8 and 9, and 1 p.m. Feb. 9. Both films not rated.

Also showing this month:

» "Code 46" (2004): Tim Robbins and Samantha Morton star in this sci-fi thriller where, in a dystopian future, people and cities are heavily controlled and travel is possible only by government approval. The titular code is a law that prevents relationships based on genetics. At 1 p.m. Feb. 10; and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10, 11, 12 and 14. Rated R.

» "Infernal Affairs (Wu Jian Dao)" (2002): One of the best action movies to come out of Hong Kong in recent years, it stars Andy Lau and Tony Leung. With the setting as the continuing war between the police and the triads, a longtime undercover cop and a triad member who infiltrated the police force both begin to feel the stress of their double lives -- and how to get out alive once their presence is suspected. At 7:30 p.m. Feb. 15, 16, 18, 19 and 21; and 1 p.m. Feb. 16 and 17. Rated R.

» "To You Sweetheart, Aloha" (2004): The colorful 94-year-old ukulele master Bill Tapia, after the deaths of his wife and only daughter, finds an unlikely muse in his 26-year-old manager Alyssa Archambault. An amazing biography of one of Hawaii's greatest living treasures. At 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22, 23 and 24; and 1 p.m. Feb. 23 and 24. Not rated.

» "In the Realms of the Unreal" (2003): An innovative documentary exploring the parallel lives of legendary outsider artist Henry Darger. After his death, the reclusive janitor by day was discovered to be a visionary artist when a 15,000-page novel about seven angelic sisters was found. At 6 p.m. Feb. 25; 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26, 28 and Mar. 1; and 4 p.m. Feb. 27. Not rated.