Article written by Claire Stroebel, guest writing for film.
I was fortunate enough recently to go and see BlacKkKlansman before it hit the cinemas. I understand that this review is a little belated. But I feel that I do have some relevant insights on not just the movie, but the issues surrounding it as well.
I was nervous going in. I had seen the trailer and I knew what it was about, but when it comes to issues about race, I always feel apprehensive. Is it going to go too far in its depictions? Is it going to show a lot of people of colour being beaten down verbally, and in some cases physically? Briefly growing up in South Africa, and having a very politically active mother, racial issues always tug at my heart strings. I don't like thinking about the things people I knew went through. But it must be addressed.
The basic outline of the movie is this: one of the first African American cops in Colorado infiltrates the local Ku Klux Klan chapter and with the help of one of his white colleagues pretending to be him, manages to prevent a series of problems the KKK poses to the community. It’s a funny, heart-warming, but never disrespectful film. The film does use the n-word A LOT, which is a bit jarring at first, but I feel that it fits in with its entire approach. Which is that it challenges the complex issue of racism with large doses of humour, without being patronising or clichéd. I think it puts forward the idea that sometimes you need to address such serious issues with a degree of light-heartedness, but also that you can't just make light of the seriousness without firsthand experience. It's not easy to find that peace and balance between the two, but I feel that the script and the casting really nails that.
But that’s not all a good movie requires. BlacKkKlansman really hits the mark with its nuances, the sorts of things you don’t really think about in a film until someone points it out. The costume design must be my favourite, with the colourful patterns of the seventies really making it feel more like you’re watching a documentary (which is basically what’s happening with the movie being based on a book). It never seems wrong or inaccurate, but rather blends in perfectly with the story, so you may need someone to point it out. Some might find fault with that, but I prefer that my story goes unfettered by too many distractions.
Which brings me to the love interest side of the movie. Yes, there is one, but it is based on a true story, and who doesn’t want people to succeed in love in real life? (If you don’t, you’re mean.) Patrice is an amazing woman, who even addresses ideas of intersectionality before it was technically used in a feminist context. It gives her so many layers where usually the female lead’s character is left flat. It’s so refreshing to see a woman of colour be strong in her role when approaching racism. We’ve seen this in movies like Loving, where an interracial couples (or in our terms, a normal couple) fight to be married leads to a historic Supreme Court decision. But it’s something that should be seen more often. We need more strong female leads. Yes, a lot of people, particularly women of colour, get pigeonholed into racial roles, but it seems to be a topic that we still need to teach people about.
While this movie really nails some of the deeper issues, it’s still a visually pleasing piece of cinema. Spike Lee uses some interesting camera techniques to give the film an air of theatre. These little pieces almost feel like dream sequences, but they don’t detract from the comedy or the drama, they give the film a nostalgic quality which just make me happy. Every detail is accounted for and appropriately dressed in the oranges, army greens and browns of the seventies. And then there’s the ending. I won’t give away any spoilers, but it really makes you question the deepness of racism within the best of us, and you will have some great discussions with your friends pertaining to the possibilities. Visually and mentally stimulating, BlacKkKlansman is a great adaption from paper to screen.
Obviously, there’s no such thing as a perfect movie. But we can get damn close. And I do feel that there are some tiny fiddly or uncomfortable moments, perhaps that’s the point. But I don’t think that it stops the movie from being great. We need more movies that push the boundaries like BlacKkKlansman does. While it’s hard to nail that kind of racially charged yet hilarious comedy, it makes it so much easier to discuss issues that people are usually wary to discuss. I’m not for one second saying that we throw around the n-word in any movie, more that maybe we should have more movies where it’s appropriate to get away with using it, because it’s done in the right context. We could all use movies like BlacKkKlansman in our lives and I wholeheartedly recommend that you go and see it.
Comments