A RAISIN IN THE SUN

US, 2008, 131 minutes, Colour.
Sean Combs, Sanaa Lathan, Audra Mc Donald, Phylicia Rashad, Justin Martin, Bill Nunn, David Oyelowo, Ron C. Jones, Sean Patrick Thomas, John Stamos.
Directed by Kenny Leon.

A Reason Raisin in the Sun made a very strong impact in the late 1950s when it appeared on Broadway. Lorraine Hansberry was hailed as a significant playwright, forceful on the race relationship themes of the period and foreshadowing what was to emerge in the 1960s, especially under the leadership of Martin Luther King, the March on Washington, the March through Selma and his assassination. The 1961 film version, directed by Daniel Petrie, starred Claudia Mc Neill and Sydney Poitier, with Ruby Dee.

50 years later, the play was presented on Broadway again and this film version, made for television, took on the cast from the theatre. The film belongs very much to Phylicia Rashad as the long-suffering mother, not confident in her son, trying to understand her “modern” daughter, very sympathetic to her put-upon daughter-in-law. Audra Mc Donald is very persuasive and often moving as the daughter-in-law. Saana Lathan is the daughter with Sean Patrick Thomas as her wealthy suitor and an early role in the United States for David Oyolowo, a British stage actor of some reputation who has impressed in many an American film, but especially as Martin Luther King in Selma. Some critics were rather severe on Sean Combs, thinking more of his reputation as a singer, Puff Diddy, than on his screen presence and performance as the unreliable son.

The film takes place principally within a small apartment in Chicago, opened out with visits to a beauty parlour, to a bar, to more update house in a white neighbourhood.

But, the strength is in the dialogue, the strong interchanges between all the characters, including the young son and the leader of a group of white protesters against the black family moving into their neighbourhood, John Stamos.

The film uses the theatrical structure, many separate scenes, with characters having dialogue discussions, but this works because of the performances and the fluidity of the camera work, moving away from giving the impression of being a play.
This is a very moving film to watch, for Americans, for outsiders – and an opportunity to empathise with African- Americans both in the past and in their continued hopes for justice and equality.

1. The original play? From the 1950s? Its success? Before Martin Luther King and civil rights movement of the 1960s? The signs in the 1950s? The 1961 film version, the cast and its impact in its time?

2. A remake almost 50 years later? Perceptions of the 21st century? Performance on Broadway, the cast, a film made for television, staying with the 1959 setting?

3. Structure of the film, based on a play, the acts and scenes, dialogue and conversations between characters?

4. The strength of the cast, the performances?

5. The family, the place of the matriarch, her age, coming from the South, her experience, free choices, as wife, as mother, her respect for her husband, his death, insurance? The widow, working for the white family, with the child, finishing her job? The insurance money, the pressures from her son, the education of her daughter? Her response to the new generation? The touch of rebellion, the daughter and her trying all the fads? Her friendship with George, his wealth, considering him superficial? The Doctor, from Nigeria, her hopes, sense of identity? Water, his mother’s thinking he was not mature, his marriage, love for Ruth, the boy, his job, as a chauffeur to the white man, humiliated or ignored? His wanting investment? Meeting with his friends, the hopes? His drinking? His treatment of Ruth, her fidelity, the barriers coming between them? Her work, love her son, weary, pregnant? The portrait of the family?

6. The apartment, old, only one bathroom and the building, the boy sleeping on the sofa, the kitchen, the lack of privacy? The desire to move? The house in the suburbs, ordinary, but welcome to the family?

7. The action taking place over a few days, the initial focus on Ruth, Travis, the son, the home, the issues, Ruth and her work, the laundry and ironing? Waiting for the letter, the boy collecting it, $10,000? The mother against investment and risk? Ruth and her trying to persuade her mother-in-law about investment? The mother going out, putting the deposit on the house? The visit to the house, the representative of the neighbours, the racist attitudes and his trying to cover them? His mother giving Walter the money, his going immediately to give the money for the plan for the liquor store, the absconding of the entrepreneur, the loss, his mother and her stoic acceptance of the reality?

8. Walter and his decision to sell the house, the visit from the representative, Walter and his stance, deciding that they would move to the house – and his mother thinking that he had matured as a man? His future?

9. Walter, his character, not having a great sense of responsibility, his hopes of the money, his friends, drinking, discussing, the deals, the investment? His friend, news of the swindle, his losing everything? Water and the anguish, the risk, the humiliation? His sister and her criticisms? Yet his mother loving and forgiving him? Ruth, the pregnancy, the mother’s concern? The plan to sell, the visit, Walter and his change, taking stands? In the eyes of his son?

10. Ruth, her age, experience, tired, doing the laundry, the gap in the love of husband and wife? Disciplining her son? The good relationship with her mother-in-law, trying to persuade her about Walter and investment? Yet agreeing with her? The pregnancy, not telling anyone, going to the beauty parlour, arranging the abortion? Going for the abortion, seeing the implements, her change of heart? Her mother-in-law and her sensitivity, Walter and the response to the pregnancy?

11. The daughter, her age, the new generation, taking up all the hobbies, the outings with George, his being wealthy, their discussions? The Doctor, from Nigeria, teaching her the language, issues of African- American identity? The visit, the embarrassment about the apartment being cleaned, the Nigerian clothes and her wearing them – and George wanting her to wear something ordinary for the theatre? Her strong reaction about the money, the house, Walter’s behaviour? Her mother trying to make her more tolerant?

12. The swindler, entrepreneur, his style, the drink, the tips, absconding with the money? Walter and his friends left in the lurch?

13. The new neighbourhood, black families moving in, the racist attitudes?

14. The title, the possibilities of interpretation?