LUV
US, 2012, 94 minutes, Colour.
Michael Rainey Jr, Common, Lonette Mc Kee, Charles S.Dutton, Danny Glover, Dennis Haysbert, Michael Kenneth Williams.
Directed by Sheldon Candis.
Luv is a small film, an independent film, written and directed by Sheldon Candis with a strong African- American cast, with such veterans as Lonette Mc Kee, Charles S. Dutton, Danny Glover, Dennis Haysbert, with the singer and songwriter, Common, in the central role. But, the film belongs to Michael Rainey Jr as an 11-year-old boy in Baltimore.
The action takes place over 24 hours, the little boy, Woody, preparing to go to school, living with his grandmother because his mother is in the Carolinas, and being taken out of the day by his uncle Vincent who has just got out of prison and wants to make a new start after his earlier violent life, with killings in the city.
Woody spends the day with his uncle, not going to school, getting a tailor-made suit, accompanying his uncle to an interview for a bank loan, meeting old friends in the neighbourhood, making contact with one of the bosses, Mr Fish, and trying to raise money to pay a mortgage in order to get the money for the loan by dealing with drugs, Woody experiencing all of this, including some shootings and a violent bashing.
The day does not end well for Vincent, thwarted in his dreams, causing and victim of violence. He has is meant well for Woody, trying to teaching what it is to be a man – but Woody, shrewd in hiding the money from the deal, will have to find his own way of being a man, and more immediately trying to visit his mother.
Quite a significant film for an American audience, especially an African- American audience.
1. A quality independent American film? An African- American film? American cities in the 21st century?
2. The title, with reference to Woody, with reference to Vincent, Woody and his mother?
3. The Baltimore setting, the feel of the city, ordinary homes, the streets, banks and offices, the seedier parts of the city, drug areas, gang areas, basketball training, wealthy homes? The countryside, police precincts? The musical score?
4. The opening, Woody and his mother, in the woods, the relationship between them? The reality that his mother was on drugs, was in Carolina, that he wanted to go to see her? His uncle’s promise? Unable to be fulfilled – except on his own initiative? The conclusion with his mother?
5. Home, Woody at home, with his grandmother, her love and care, the breakfast? His uncle Vincent, getting out of jail, smartly dressed, the car, getting the signature from grandmother for the loan? Taking Woody to school? The discussion about the girls and looking at him, his shyness, Vincent deciding to take him away for the day? Going to the tailor and getting him well-dressed?
6. The day, the screen indicating various times and the progress of the day? The shop and the clothes, in the street, going to the bank, the discussion of the plan to buy the warehouse, the manager, getting the superior, the reality of the second mortgage, Vincent’s promise to get the money? His visit to Cofield, the past friendship, the issue of money, drugs, the discussions about the murders in the streets? Cofield’s phone call? Later meeting with Vincent?
7. Going to see Mr Fish, the basketball, the commentary, the past relationship, Vincent and his indebtedness to Mr Fish, crime, drugs, money? Payments, getting drugs? The visit to Arthur, past friendships, associations, the friendliness towards Woody? Woody observing everything?
8. Going to get the drugs, in the neighbourhood, the dealers, suspicions, memories of Vincent and killings? His time in jail? The drugs, the shootings? The drugs in the garbage bag, in Woody’s satchel? The effect on Woody?
9. Vincent teaching would you how to drive the car? and his later helping Vincent getaway after the shooting?
10. The flowers for the woman at work, going to see her when she got out of the office, the partner arriving in the car, friendship, the clash, the fight, the shooting?
11. Going to the mansion, Mr Fish and his cooking, smooth talking? Relationship with Arthur? The discussions, the memories of the past, hospitality? Suspicions, handing over the money? The guns, the shootings? Vincent and his dying, Woody’s response?
12. The role of the police, their knowing Vincent, stopping his car in the street, the discussions, threats? The arrival after the killings? Interrogating Woody at the station? Letting him go? His drawings?
13. Woody going back and finding the money, having buried at and marked it? The car – and the visit to his mother?
14. The effect of the day on Woody, his background, middle-class, the gun and the language of killing, respectably dressed, accompanying his uncle, learning? His future?
