YELLING TO THE SKY
US, 2011, 99 minutes, Colour
Zoe Kravitz, Jason Clarke, Antonique Smith, Yolanda Ross, Gabourey Sidive, Tim Blake Nelson, Tariq Trotter.
Directed by Victoria Mahoney.
It is a great disadvantage to this film that Precious was released in 2009 to Oscar nominations and wins and successful box-office. Yelling to the Sky is too similar and, all in all, not as interesting or involving as Precious.
Both are the stories of young Afro- American girls in New York neighbourhoods. After Precious, we now have Sweetness, Sweetness O'Hara (Zoe Kravitz). Her life is not as miserable as that of Precious despite her attempts to make it so. Her mother is a weak woman opting out of life. Her father has an Irish background and is a drinker who can turn to violence. She has a pregnant older sister who is not afraid to take on gangs to defend Sweetness.
So, we have home scenes, some of which are happy, most of which are not. Sweetness has a hard time at school even though she is clever. She is also bashed by the leader of a gang (played by Gabourey Sidibe who actually played Precious). In rebellion, she goes to a rather nice drug dealer and starts dealing herself. This leads to more violence - and eventually a wake-up call that she could do much better with her life and go to college.
Partly based on the experiences of the writer-director, this is a personal film. Whether it finds its target audience is a moot question.
1. Films about young girls in the ghetto? The difficulties in growing up? Films like Precious? This film in comparison, characters, plots, difficulties? A successful film in engaging emotions or not?
2. The New York settings, the ghettos, homes, the streets, schools, drugs? The realistic atmosphere? The musical score, the rap, the background music of the neighbourhood?
3. The autobiographical aspects of the film? The director’s experiences and memories? Respect for her memories?
4. Sweetness O’ Hara as the centre of the film? Seventeen years old? On the bike, w her sister, the confrontation by the gang in the street, the brutality and the bashing? Her sister rescuing Sweetness? Sweetness at home, her alcoholic father, the Irish background? Her African American mother, in a weak state of mind yet loving her daughter? Her older sister and her pregnancy? Sweetness and the confrontations, at school, the advice of the doctor? Her anger? Her sister’s leaving, her mother leaving? Her exasperation with her father? Sleeping on the floor? Trying to reconcile with her father, his concern about her, his disappearances, return home, injured, sewing his head? His reform, his reform, his walking with her to school? Her going downhill, her going to her friend, getting the drugs, seconding the two helpers, the clash with the leader of the gang, the bashing? Her sense of failure? The possibility of change, the police and the pursuit of her drug friend, his death? Her running away? The drugs, the doctor? The low ebb, her change of heart, going for the interview, discussions with the doctor, the possibilities of college, music? The possibilities of her coming to her senses and growing up?
5. Sweetness’s father, his background, the death of his brother? Marrying his wife? Bringing up the daughters? His drinking, his violence, his being away from home, with the friends? His reaction to his wife? Her going? His daughters and his erratic behaviour? The reform, after the bashing? His trying to be supportive to Sweetness?
6. Sweetness’s mother, her feeble efforts, lack of character, lack of courage? Her going away from home? The older sister, her support at home, defending her physically – even while pregnant? Her absent boyfriend? Going away, having the baby? Coming back, the interactions with Sweetness, harshness and love?
7. The leader of the gang, her size, her pushing people around? The initial bashing? The confrontations at school? The drugs, the two women helping the gang leader, going over to Sweetness? The bashing, Sweetness’s apology?
8. The other members of the school friends, their gangs? The friendships, falling out?
9. The doctor, the drugs, his helping Sweetness at the end, filling in the forms, her going to college?
10. A credible story of a young woman in the 1990s, the early part of the 21st century? Perennial difficulties in the neighbourhoods? How involved was the audience – for African American audiences, women audiences? The more universal themes and worldwide appeal?
