THE THIN LINE BETWEEN LOVE AND HATE

US, 1996, 106 minutes, Colour.
Martin Lawrence, Lynn Whitfield, Regina King, Della Reese, Roger G.Mosley.
Directed by Martin Lawrence.

The Thin Line Between Love and Hate was very popular in the United States, especially amongst black African audiences. The film does not transplant so well beyond the US.

The film starts as a kind of variation on Eddie Murphy comedies, the arrogant black male boasting of his seductions - and then complications arising, his betrayal of his true love, infatuation with the woman who ultimately intends to destroy him. There follows a change of heart - with a moralisingly happy ending, especially geared towards black men and their exploitation of women. While audiences are thinking that it is a variation on Fatal Attraction, the hero suddenly announces that he is in this kind of story.

The film is the work of Martin Lawrence who acts the central role, co-wrote the screenplay as well as directed. He was partnered with Will Smith in the very successful police action thriller, Bad Boys. Lyn Whitfield is very glamorous in the thankless role of the woman with the death wish and the fatal attraction.

The film is set in an affluent California, the world of nightclubs, the world of women with Harvard degrees - as well as with the brothers and their egging each other on in their sexual exploits. The film indicates the kind of glossy, soundly budgeted films that were designed for black American audiences.

1.The appeal of this kind of story: the journey of a self centred and seductive man and his fall, comeuppance and reformation? The credibility of this journey? The film as moralising - especially taking the part of black women and making a strong stance against their exploitation by men?

2.The Californian settings, the homes, the neighbourhood, the nightclubs? The contrast with the world of affluence? The musical score and songs?

3.The significance of the title and its being spoken by the hero's mother?

4.The central character and his screen presence and style, the voice-over and his seductive exploitation, seeing him at work? The response of the women? His work with his friend T, at the nightclub with Smithy? Smithy as a reformed pimp with a loving wife? The pushing of the nightclub? The encounter with the femme fatale - T and his chatter, the hero's apology, her spurning him, coming to the club, leading him on, the attraction, his going to her home, the affair, sharing so much together, her transforming him with his clothes? Her jealousy when he didn't come to her party? Beginning to wreak revenge - injuring herself, the police, injuring Mia? Her growing more desperate? His having to cope with all of this - his offhand reaction, his realisation that she was serious? At the nightclub? His rediscovery of his love for Mia, the talk with Smithy, trying to protect Mia from the femme fatale's vengeance? The final confrontation and his injuries? Learning his lesson?

5.The hero and his relationship with his mother, her moralising with him? His sister, the prom, his antagonism towards her partner?

6.The nightclub owner, the plans, trusting the hero and T? The opening of the club, its success, its burning down?

7.T and his style, friendship with the hero? His advice? The contrast in the two characters?

8.The playing out of the fatal attraction? The hero and his being insensitive, oblivious? Under attack, the violence, the arrest, her treatment of him and the shooting? The final confrontation and his hospitalisation?

9.The contrast with Mia, the air force, her friend, the treatment by the hero? Her putting up with it? Her decision to resist him? His apology, gentle treatment, change of heart? The danger and her not realising it? Her participation in the final confrontation?

10.The gallery of characters - the various types present in black entertainments? The role of men, the role of women? The drawing on Fatal Attraction - with the downfall of the woman and the explanation of her exploitation by her husband and her violence? The vindication of the male after learning his lesson?