BROWN SUGAR
US, 2002, 110 minutes, Colour.
Taye Diggs, Sanaa Latham, Mos Def, Nicole Ari Parker, Boris Kodjoe, Queen Latifah.
Directed by Rick Famuyiwa.
Brown Sugar is one of many similar African American romantic dramas that appeared between 1995 and 2005. Often they have the same casts. In fact, Taye Diggs (Chicago, Rent) also appeared in the same director’s romantic film, The Wood.
Sanaa Lathan portrays a magazine editor. Digs is a hip-hop record executive. While they have known each other since they were very young, they eventually fall in love. Not without complications in terms of interrelationships with their friends.
The supporting cast includes Mos Def (The Italian Job, Sixteen Blocks) and Queen Latifah who emerged in the late 90s as a recording artist but also as an actress and comedienne, headlining films like Last Holiday and Bringing Down the House with Steve Martin. She received an Oscar nomination for her performance in Chicago. The film is directed by Rick Famuyiwa who also wrote and directed The Wood.
1. The popularity of this film amongst African American audiences, in America, around the world? The film geared to its particular niche audience?
2. The Los Angeles settings in the inner city of the 80s, New York at the beginning of the 20th century? The world of recordings, professional sport, glossy magazines?
3. The importance of the music, the theme of hip-hop, the songs throughout the film, the opening and the hip-hop of 1984, the transition to 2001, the records, the artists?
4. Sidney and her book, the voice-over from the book, her love affair with hip-hop, the parallel with her relationship with Dre? The initial interviews with the real hip-hop artists and their perspectives on its creativity, freedom, imagination, poetry, social comment? Significant for African American singers, audiences?
5. The basic romantic story, the friendship between Sidney and Dre as children, their friendship as adults, the missed opportunity during their study years for marriage, each of them pursuing their own course, Dre's marriage, Francine and her urging Sidney to object, Sidney and her relationship with Kelby, the break-up of the marriage? True love finding itself? Cliche material - done in the perspective of the African American community, the hip-hop story?
6. The film's focus on Sidney, precocious young girl, her abilities in writing, the column, her becoming editor, moving to New York? The phone calls and the friendship with Dre, always seeking his advice? Meeting him at the party, his confiding in her about the proposal to Reese? Meeting Reese, seeing the proposal? The marriage, Francine's advice, the embarrassing sequences in the church? The marriage? Sidney and her work in New York, her friendships, loneliness? The meeting with Kelby, his charm, the meal and his cooking, the beginning of a relationship? The New Year's party and his proposing to her, her accepting and Dre's watching? Dre and his decision to leave his job, confiding in Sidney before Reese? Her giving him the cheque? Watching his success, her own success, the relationship with Kelby? The gym sequences and the antagonism towards Reese? Catching Reese in the restaurant with a friend, minus her engagement ring? Dre and his discussions about his marriage, the sexual relationship? Her not helping him with the record? Finishing the book, the interview on the radio, his phone call, the proposal, her confession, the happy ending?
7. Dre, the little boy in Los Angeles, the record tycoon, his various groups, reliance on Sidney, the proposal to Reese, the wedding? The kitchen sequences and the development of their life together suggested by their actions and interactions? His work, leaving Millennium, wanting Sidney's advice, then telling Reese, her cold reaction? His friendship with Chris, the taxi rides, developing the label? His going to the radio stations, his being given the shove? His return, self-assertiveness, talking to the manager? His phone call during Sidney's interview, his confession, proposal? Their sexual relationship? His disillusionment with Reese, seeing her in the restaurant, his reaction, the divorce? A future with Sidney?
8. Reese, competent woman, in love with Dre, the wedding, married life, her work, her meeting with Sidney, jealousies, the sparring at the gym? Her flirtations nature, the collapse of the marriage?
9. Kelby, sports, meeting Sidney, cooking for her, the date, the sexual relationship, the proposal, his seeing her relationship with Dre, the breaking off of the engagement?
10. Chris, taxi driving, his skill as a deejay, his wry remarks, attracted towards Francine, helping with the record? Francine, Queen Latifah's presence in the film, friendship with Sidney, her comments during the ceremony, going out with Chris?
11. The record world, the hip-hop songs, Dre and his disgust with the Black and White Twosome - but their later success? The range of artists, the role of hip-hop in African American culture?
