Losing Ground, the 1982 film by written and directed by Kathleen Collins, is a comedy-drama about an African-American philosophy professor who goes on a personal journey to find “ecstasy,” away from her philandering husband.

The film was considered groundbreaking for its time — the post-blaxploitation era, and was well regarded, especially among the black elite, for its non-stereotypical depiction of life in academia, and a narrative that looked beyond race. While Losing Ground made the rounds at several film festivals in the early 80’s, to generally positive reviews, it never made it to movie theaters.

Writer and director Kathleen Collins passed away in 1988. Now, nearly 30 years after her death, the film, which has only since been screened in small venues and academic settings, is slated for its first theatrical run.

Losing Ground opens February 6 at the Film Society of Lincoln Center, as part of “Tell It Like It Is: Black Independents in New York, 1968 – 1986.” There are also plans to release the film on DVD shortly after its New York run.