BOYZ 'N THE HOOD

US, 1991, 107 minutes, Colour.
Larry Fishburne, Cuba Gooding Jr, Angela Bassett, Ice Cube.
Directed by John Singleton.

Boyz N The Hood is the feature debut of black director, John Singleton. He received an Oscar nomination for best director for this film. His subsequent films were Poetic Justice (a strange mixture of artiness and black violence in American cities with Janet Jackson and the American poet Maya Angelou) and Higher Learning, a picture of black Americans in American universities, Baby Boy as well as the update of Shaft.

Singleton was in his early 20s when he made Boys In The Hood. It is a story of families with an emphasis on father-son relationships and their adequacy and inadequacy. The film focuses on a young man Tre, played by Cuba Gooding Jnr. His mother, Angela Bassett, cannot control him and asks her separated husband, Larry Fishburne, to take care of him. The '80s pass into the '90s and Tre is still wild. His friends include Doughboy (played by Ice Cube) and has a girlfriend, Nia Long. Tre tries to live within the social climate of south central Los Angeles with its street violence, gangs, police hassling. Eventually there are crises and violence and death.

The character played by Larry Fishburne is an African- American father trying to relate to his son - who also takes up the cause of violence within the city neighbourhood. He is given some speeches declaring the message of the film.

The film traces familiar plotlines but brings them to life with great vigour both with the direction and the performances. This was one of the most thoughtful of the spate of films of the early '90s written and directed by African- Americans.

1.The style of the title? Its impact in the US? For African- American audiences? White American audiences? World-wide audiences? The setting up of expectations of character and themes?

2.The work of John Singleton, acclaim and awards? His interest in the neighbourhoods, the American cities, black families, the relationship between parents and children, especially fathers and sons?

3.South central Los Angeles in the mid-'80s and the early '90s? The streets, homes, hangouts, sport, school? The tough atmosphere?

4.The musical background, the range of songs, their place in the development of characters and themes? The background score?

5.Reva and her role as mother, unable to control her son, separated husband? Her decision to take her son to his father and hand him over? Her discussions with Furious? The background of the marriage and the break-up? The years passing and her living her own life, change and development, her later meeting with Furious to discuss what was to happen about their son? The comment on the change roles and lifestyles of African-American? in the '80s?

6.Tre as a young boy, home life, friends, life in the streets, running wild and out of control, Ricky and Doughboy? The relationship with the two boys - and their home, the friendship with their mother? The expectations of growing up in this neighbourhood, life expectancy, violence? Studies, careers?

7.The transition to Tre in 1991? The barbecue and the celebration, Doughboy and his toughness, coming out of jail? Tre at home, the relationship with his father, their being able to discuss things? Education expectations? His relationship with Brandi, her Catholic background, unwillingness to have sex with Tre, his bravado talk? His discussions about sex with his father? Sitting for the exams? Ricky and his interest in sport, the group hanging out together, the gang and the interactions, the guns, Doughboy drawing the gun? The later police hassle - one black policeman, one white? His personal desperation, going to see Brandi, his tears, fears, the sexual encounter? Going to the shop, the gang and the shooting? His anger and grief at Ricky's death? Going back home to get the gun, arguing with his father? Chasing the gang? Doughboy and his saying that he regretted what he had done? Tre calming down, Ricky's exam results? Facing his future? Going to study?

8.The character of furious, his background, relationship with Reva, their son? The separation? His role as a financial adviser and his place of respect within the black community? His bringing up his son, the strength of the father-son relationship? Their discussions? His theories about violence and oppression, the passion of his speeches? The message of the film? The finale with Tre searching for the gun, his trying to talk him out of the chase?

9.The picture of Doughboy, the wild boy, growing up, violence, being arrested? His having a gun? His relationship with Ricky, sequences at home, stepmother? With the group, hanging out? The gang and his pulling a gun - and the consequence of the gang coming after them and the death of Ricky? The violent search for Ricky's killers? His expression of regret to Tre? The film's postscript about his death soon after the end of the action of the film?

10.The contrast with Ricky, as a young boy, with the group, growing up, his talent with sport, football? His relationships and his son? Sitting for the exam and his hopes? Quiet, the contrast with Doughboy? Relationship with his mother? The harassment by the gang, being hassled by the police? At the shop - and the sudden violence of his death? The irony of his exam results coming after his death - indicating that he would have had a future? Leaving the child and his mother?

11.The sketch of Brandy, the young girl, her family, Catholic background, values in the neighbourhood? Her relationship with Tre, resistance as regards sexual encounters, Tre's coming to her, his tears, her giving in? Their future?

12.The picture of the Los Angeles gangs, the cars, the language, the guns, hassling? The violence and the shooting? The gang wars?

13.The picture of police in Los Angeles? Their attitudes towards the teenagers, hassling them - both black police and white police?

14.The film seen as an African-American? rites of passage film? Of boys growing into adult men? The need for cultural leadership, especially for the young males? The plea of the film for the men to take responsibility for themselves and for their children?