Green book.
This is one of those movies which warms your heart.
Green book is an Oscar winning film directed by Peter Farrelly (not that I know much about movie directors lol). But I know for sure that, it’s a movie that truly deserves all the accolades it has been awarded. It is a good film, not only in the sense of the directing and acting, but more so in the story it tells. It’s a film about deep social issues that mar the fabric of America.
After watching this movie, I felt like going outside and hugging a random stranger ; ) It’s that moving.
The movie a biographical representation of the life of Don Shirley, an African American (black) classical and jazz pianist who is also gay (mind you, the movie takes place in early 1960s). And his hired driver, Italian American (white) bouncer Frank Vallelonga. Together they go on a tour of the deep south of the United States, a tour where Don is the star who plays piano for distinguished guests and Frank, as his driver, helps him to get to venues on time. And it is along this tour, the pair, particularly Don, experiences different hardships arising from the racist and homophobic sentiment of the south. And it is through enduring through these hardships and injustice, that they (a black man and a white man) become deep friends, at a time when racism was still considered the norm and the two races preferred to keep distance from each other.
The movie revolves around Don, who is black, wealthy, well-educated and gay; at a time when back folks were expected to spend their lives in poverty picking cotton off the farms and being gay was a federal crime. (Important: slavery was abolished way before in 1865, but the racist sentiments and even some segregation laws, were still prominent in the United States, especially in the southern states). He is expected to act like someone other than himself, just because of the color of his skin. He is expected to behave a certain way, speak a certain way because he is black. For example; he is deeply passionate about classical music, but he is expected to perform jazz music because it’s just what black people are known for. Don defies every stereotype of what a black man should look like in the early 60s. And it is his peculiar situation, that forces him to question his identity, in a world which expects him to behave a certain way based on the color of his skin. He is black, but he is not poor; he is a man, but he likes men, it is this insecurity about his identity that torments Don. He questions, “If I am not black enough, and I if I am not man enough, then tell me what am I?”. He is black, but he is not accepted by the black people because he is rich; he is rich, but he is not accepted by the rich whites because he is black. It is this pain of not being accepted, not belonging to any group, not having an identity, that the movie portrays so vividly that really touched my heart. I honestly felt like crying, it is so damn relatable.
And this notion of stereotype is further exaggerated (and in a funny way), when Frank, who is a member the privileged whites though poor, decides to work for Don as his driver. And in this way, the movie demonstrates a strange, and almost funny dynamic, of a white man working for a black man, at a time when it was exclusively the other way around! This, as you might question was only possible because Don and Frank are from New York, a progressive northern state. (side note: it’s a movie that tells a lot about the American society and it’s history, so you there is much to learn too ; ) When this odd pair, of a black man and a white man, seeming reversed in their roles, decided to go on a tour to the deeply conservative and racist southern states; you can only imagine what would happen. And what’s more, Frank who is white, is not well educated or polished as Don; hence it is really fun to watch a black man acting like a “white” man and a white man acting like a “black” man throughout the movie.Frank is vulgar and upfront, where is Don is a true gentleman, and it is quite interesting to watch them teach themselves each other’s ways. For example, it was heartwarming to see Frank (again, who is white), teach Don (who is black), to eat chicken wings which is actually considered a black delicacy. It is almost as if Frank (a white man) is teaching Don (a black man) to be black (as in appreciate his own culture), and Don is teaching Frank to be “white”. That made me smile. It is this story line, this strange, almost unreal but actually true story, that makes the film so entertaining and engaging. It is super interesting and inspiring, to watch these two characters deal with the injustice and sentiments of the south.
This movie doesn’t have all that mind-blowing action, amazing CGI nor does it have half naked women running around the screen. But still, it is one of the most exciting movies I have ever watched. This is a movie of quality, a movie that actually has a story worth telling. A movie that manages moves you emotionally and really think about important issues.
And the execution is fantastic as well. The actors do their job on point, they are really good! I could sympathize with the characters, feel their struggle and pain though the screen. This film moved me emotionally, and maybe that is why it has such a special place in my heart.
It’s a film about racism, identity and the struggle of a black man to find his place in a world, a world that expects him to discard his dignity and act in a confined notion of what the society thinks a “negro” should be like. It is a beautiful tale of two races: a white man and a black man, and what could happen when these two men, living drastically different lives shed their differences, and judge each other by the goodness of their character and not the color of their skins. It’s a tale about love and respect. It’s a story that truly brings out the best of us. However, it’s also a tale about injustice, and how men can treat fellow men as animals; it’s a tale that portrays the absolute worst of human character. So, in essence, it’s a film that depicts the possibility of human compassion as well as the extremes of human hatred.
Hence, it is an important film.
It is a relevant film.
It is especially relevant now, more than ever before. We are living in a time, when racism is at an all-time high, where racist police kill the innocent in broad daylight, where injustice is on full display for everyone to ‘see’ but no one speaks about it, and when hatred between races is boiling, waiting to erupt and engulf all that there is. These are times of great difficulty; these are fragile times. These are times, when people feel hurt, they feel disrespected and as a result, they find refuge in violence. At moments like these, humanity has a choice, to either push towards the possibility of human compassion or be engulfed by the extremes of human hatred. And this movie, describes exactly that. Hence, this film is especially relevant now, and that is one of the reasons I am writing this review. At times like these, movies like this help us reflect and understand. These are the movies, that guide us and bring the best of us in difficult times.
And the issues of hatred and compassion between the races depicted in the movie, are not only relevant between the Blacks and the Whites in America, but it’s a representation of universal human character. It also shows the story of Hindus and Muslims, between Israelis and Palestinians, between Shia and Sunni or, any two groups of people who are seeming so different from each other.
So, that’s the film. I am absolutely in love with it.
You should definitely consider watching this absolute masterpiece.
Cheers!
= )
*btw there is a reason why the movie is titled “Green Book” ; )
Honestblogs 