Dooni

"Tragedy is not a punishment from God," the popular gospel singer Walter Hawkins told a standing room only crowd of mourners at the funeral of disco legend Sylvester in December 1988. " AIDS is not God's Punishment." With these words, Walter Hawkins sought to move the Black Church away from a theology of AIDS as God's punishment to one that emphasized the sacredness of all human life. Based on fragments of Hawkins' eulogy of Sylvester, Dooni celebrates the spirit of inclusivity that undergirded both singers' theology and art. In doing so it celebrates the black sermonic tradition and the gospel imagination. Though drawing heavily on the creative energies and ritualistic practices of the Black Church, the film unfolds in two decidedly secular spaces-Trocadero Transfer and the open California road. Bolstered by actor Timothy Johnson's powerful voice-over narration, Dooni offers a deeply moving reflection on Sylvester's unwavering faith in the face of death, his unbreakable bond with his fans, and how Spirit infused every aspect of his public life. "

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