“Blood Brothers” on Netflix: how did the friendship between Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X break down?

The fight against racism towards African-Americans and Islam made Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali “Blood Brothers”. Netflix “Blood Brothers” has just been released, a documentary about the friendship of these two key figures in the history of the United States and how they went from being almost brothers to becoming distant.

This production, directed by Marcus A. Clarke, recounts the formative years of the two protagonists, who from a very young age experienced racial segregation in the country where they were born. The documentary is inspired by the book of the same name, written by Randy Roberts and Johnny Smith.

Clarke expressed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter his admiration for both protagonists. “Despite being two of the most admired and legendary African-Americans of the 20th century, the intensity of their relationship and the influence they exerted on each other are little known.”

Through interviews with the daughters of Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali, the latter’s brother, and others close to them, we learn what brought them to the Nation of Islam and how they became ardent followers of Elijah Muhammad. Hand in hand with the statements, we can see unpublished archive images, interviews and newspaper clippings that put us in context.

The friendship between the Islamic preacher and the world boxing champion began in the 1960s, when Muhammad Ali was still Cassius Clay, the boy from Louisville who had just won a medal at the Rome Olympics but was still segregated by the country. which he proudly represented. How did you change your name?

“Few people understand the bond these two men shared. This new documentary feature film offers a new perspective through interviews with those close to him, images and unpublished material to trace the complex friendship that existed around the almost simultaneous and symbiotic rise of the charismatic and outspoken Olympic champion who charmed the nation, and the ex-con turned revolutionary intellectual who criticized white oppression.” says the official synopsis of the documentary.

One of the key moments in the friendship relationship was Muhammad Ali’s fight against Sonny Liston, in 1964 for the world heavyweight title. Malcolm X met Ali in the locker room to give him words of encouragement and made him believe that he really had a chance to win and that Allah himself was with him. That same year, Malcolm X rebelled against the Islamic Nation and its leader Elijah Muhammad, against whom he made serious accusations. Since then, Ali has distanced herself from him and the friendship has cooled.

A year later, Malcolm X lost his life as a result of several impacts during an attack, ironically similar to that of John F. Kennedy in 1963, about which the preacher made controversial statements at the time.

The documentary tape also tells how Ali regretted the way his friendship with his “brother” ended and what he did to make amends for his mistake. Without wanting to spoil any more, “Blood Brothers” is now available in the Netflix catalog, get ready to meet Muhammad Ali in his role as an activist.

THE TOKEN

Platform: Netflix

Summary: “Blood Brothers: Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali” tells the extraordinary story behind the friendship of two of the most iconic figures of the 20th century.

Duration: 1h 36 min

Direction: Marcus A. Clarke

Production: Kenya Barris and Jason Perez

Executive production: Erynn Sampson, Jonathan Chinn, Simon Chinn, Simon George and Marcus A. Clarke

Gender: documentary films, sociocultural documentaries, historical documentaries

Year: 2021

Classification: 16+

Author Rating: ★★★★