Space is the Place

Was there a serious intention behind the odd mishmash that is 1974's SPACE IS THE PLACE? When you listen to Sun Ra lay down his otherworldly rap, often filled with pointed social commentary, you would suspect.  The avant garde musician, known for highly experimental music performed by he and his "Arkestra", co-wrote this curiosity, and seemed more interested in creating a filmic tract for his cosmic viewpoints, tinged with racial commentary than another '70s vanity project, of which there were several centered around musicians.  But SPACE IS THE PLACE spends a great deal of time playing like some dime a dozen blaxploitation flick.

I get it.  Director John Coney and co-writer Joshua Smith use the exploitation elements to display the brokenness of mankind, specially the plight of the African-American in the ghetto.   The film's plot involves a celestial card game between Sun Ra (playing himself but also some kind of god) and The Overseer (Ray Johnson), decked out as a pimp but probably the Devil, which will determine the fate of the black race.  We periodically return to that card table in the desert as each player wins or loses a hand. 

Ra has apparently been on another planet since the late '60s and has returned to warn the citizens of Oakland that their Earthly way of life is doomed, and offers them passage back to a (planet? outer space?) place where lives are not pointless or that suffers racism.  He lectures the youth at a rec. center, who laugh at and dismiss this dude who talks funny and wears funky clothes, but soon they pay attention when he correctly assess how they've been marginalized by society.  Mainly, the whites who have all the opportunities.

The Overseer meanwhile continues to enjoy his sinful "life", hanging with his employee Jimmy Fey (Christopher Brooks) and a pair of lovelies with whom he routinely makes it.  There is a scene in a hospital during which the actresses entirely disrobe for the Overseer in one of numerous scenes that are quite indefensible, even lascivious.  Ones that seem apart from Sun Ra's mantra.

Other scenes, many involving a pair of white guys from NASA who are net on learning about Sun Ra's secrets of space travel, are just silly.  Some statements there, sure, but the scenario becomes low grade chase/kidnap/sex thriller.  It's as if we're watching two separate movies, even though the filmmakers clearly wanted the juxtaposition to be meaningful. It just feels like a mess.

Also quite unfortunate is the dearth of music of Sun Ra.  There are some good concert sequences, but this confused film would've benefited from far more.   SPACE IS THE PLACE is worth a look for Ra's fans, and those who love the '70s film aesthetic, but everyone else will be confused and dismissive.

P.S. - Interestingly, the version I saw on The Criterion Channel was a scratchy, beat up print, which only helped matters, to be honest.