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The Lesser of 2 Evils

A Knife. A Gun. A Decision.

Inspired by Portia Nelson's poem, "Autobiography in Five Short Chapters", a meditation on life and destruction summarizes the narrative plight of the experimental film, The Lesser of 2 Evils. Narrated by preeminent Jazz Saxophonist, JD Allen and accompanied with a visual score by filmmaker, Mario Tahi Lathan, The Lesser of 2 Evils serves up deconstructive commentary on the idea of consumption versus non-consumption; through the lens of fear, happiness, sadness and surprise. The Lesser of 2 Evils challenges the viewer in regards to the perspective of choice and the consequences thereof. What will it be: the knife or the gun?

The real choice may be the one that is not made.

  • Mario Lathan
    Producer
  • JD Allen
    Producer
  • JD Allen
    Key Cast
    "Narrator"
  • JD Allen
    Composer
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short
  • Genres:
    Historical, AfroFuturism
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 30 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 30, 2026
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    HD, Archival
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • San Antonio Black International Film Festival
    San Antonio
    United States
    October 3, 2025
    North American Premiere
    Best Editor - Mario Lathan; Best Film - Honorable Mention;
Director Biography

A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Mario Tahi Lathan holds an MFA in Film degree from Howard University. As a Producer and Editor, Mario has worked in Narrative and Documentary programming for major networks ranging from PBS, TNT, Travel, BET, ESPN, CNN, and El Rey, including the Emmy award winning series, Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations. Mario has released several Jazz documentaries, VICTORY!, starring saxophonist JD Allen (Best short form video by the Jazz Journalists Association – 2012), Jaimeo Brown’s Transcendence (2014) and This Is The Bash (2019). Mario also served as a Producer on the Emmy nominated film Dreamland: The Rise and Fall of Black Wall Street (CNN) and the limited series, Black Pop: Celebrating The Power of Black Culture for E! and NBC.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The genesis of The Lesser of 2 Evils can be scattered throughout the phone conversations for the umpteenth film/musical collaboration between Jazz Saxophonist, JD Allen and myself.
JD presented me with the topic of choice: What is the lesser of two evils, historically, in regards to the plight of the Black community?
 
The topic soon dwindled to Jim Crow and the Pre-Voting Rights era. A simple act of casting a ballot to determine one’s future was often wrought with the prospect of violence: mental and physical. Even with a myriad of requirements met, consisting of literacy tests and such (the ones like reciting the Ten Commandments on the spot), “uppity” black folks could be made an “example of” what happens when you vote.
 
The symbolic idea of the GUN, which could end “it” fast or the KNIFE, which could end “it”, maybe just a little slower, serve as representations regarding the irony of any situation. We determined overt political discourse would diminish any critical thought from conversations that the film should and will generate. The conversation that roots itself in the narrative of the rich versus poor; country versus country; good versus good or simply, life versus death. This lead us to an often overlooked thesis: Is the making of a choice even worth the conclusion?

Mario Tahi Lathan