THE HATE U GIVE

US, 2018, 133 minutes, Colour.
Amandla Stenberg, Regina Hall, Russell Hornsby, Anthony Mackie, Issa Rae, Common, Algee Smith, Sabrina Carpenter, K.J.Apa, Lamar Johnson, TJ Wright.
Directed by George Tillman Jr.

This is a stirring film, powerful in many of its sequences. Its impact is principally for American audiences, black audiences, and the challenge for white audiences. However, non-Americans, observing from the outside, will nevertheless find it accessible as well as disturbing.

In recent years, the media has given prominence to stories of police shooting young black men, especially in the cities. This is one of those stories. However, it is based on a novel by a Mississippi author, Angie Thomas, African- American, with the screenplay by a white American woman, Audrey Wells. Which gives the film a particular female sensibility. And this is enhanced by the performance of Amandla Stenberg as Starr Carter, the central character.

Starr is 16 years old, lives with her loving parents, Regina Hall and Russell Hornsby, a half brother, Seven, Lamar Johnson, and a very young brother, Sekani, TJ Wright. The parents have given their children symbolic names: Starr with her shining light, Seven the perfect number, Sekani meaning joy. The father has served a prison sentence for drug dealing in the past but now is a man of fervent principle, determined to do what is right, bringing up his children with both affection and discipline. Their mother is a nurturing devoted mother. And they have sent their children to school out of the local African- American neighbourhood, with its drug problems and violence, to a more respectable high school.

Starr confides to us that she has to be two people, the Starr for the neighbourhood, the other Starr for the prep school. She berates herself for her smiling accommodation to the expectations of the school. She has white friends, two girls in her class, and a boyfriend, Chris (played by A.J. Apa, a New Zealand actor who looks older and more mature but, was in fact 18 or 19 during filming).

While there is pressure in the neighbourhood from the leader of the drug gang, King (Anthony Mackie), life for the family tends to be comfortable enough, the father managing a convenience store with plenty of customers, well-liked and respected.

The crucial event at the centre of the film is one of those dire shootings, a young white policeman holding up the young black man, suspicious of him, questioning him, thinking that he was reaching for a weapon (merely a brush) and shoots him, Starr in the car and then dragged out, pushed to the ground and handcuffed.

So, the film is about Starr’s conscience, her being the sole witness for a grand jury, her mother not wanting her to be exposed to this notoriety, Starr keeping the secret, but facing all kinds of questions about what she should do, especially when urged to be involved by an activist for justice for African- Americans.

In fact, the film becomes very emotional for the characters as well as for the audience, the concern for Starr whom we like, having to remember that she is an inexperienced teenager although a young woman with a conscience and finding ways to follow it – to the grand jury, to others knowing the truth, especially Chris, apprehensive about the demonstrations in the street outside the court, threatened violently by the drug chief, finding her voice and further determination, participating in a protest that becomes a clash with police and a smoke-bomb riot.

Amandla Stenberg is a young actress with quite a number of credits, Everything Everything as well as The Darkest Minds. On this performance, we should be seeing a lot more of her.

Topical and challenging, even outside the United States.

1. The film based on a novel, female author? Screenplay and female writer? The male director? The combined efforts for the perspective on Starr and her behaviour and decisions?

2. The title, expectations, the acrostic for THUG? And Life?

3. The American city, the different neighbourhoods, the black neighbourhood and streets and is? Interiors? The local store? The contrast with the world of the school, class differences? At the school, the prom? The musical score?

4. Starr and her voice-over, confiding in the audience?

5. A film of race issues, the different neighbourhoods, the difficulties, different status, different affluence, different education? The Black neighbourhood on the drugs, the gangs, the violence? Audience and locals’ expectations of life in the Black neighbourhood?

6. The American experience, the police shooting of young Black men? Stories Taken up by the media? In the Courts, Justice? Or the lack of Justice in condemning the police for their behaviour?

7. The family, Maverick and his being genial, a loving father, his past with his own father, working with drugs, under the influence of King? Going to jail, taking the rap for him? The years? Coming out, the change, his Love for his wife? The birth of Starr? His adopting Seven, his liaison with a measure, her erratic behaviour, drugs, giving up her son? His wife forgiving him? The young son and love for him? The children, the rules and Maverick demanding they learn? Honourable behaviour? His work in the store, the customers and friends? Wanting a good education for his children? His love for them?

8. Starr and her style, her age, at home, at school, her girlfriends, the relationship with Chris (and the difficulties the condom, her stance, his reaction close friend? The two Starrs, affable on the surface, interior rage? At school? At home?

9. Going to the party, the shops, her friendship with Kahlil, offering to drive her home, the past and their childhood, the first kiss? Pulled over by the police, the young officer, rough behaviour towards the black young man (and later Starr listening to her uncle’s explanation about interrogations, motivations, weapons, the dark – and whether it was the same for black men pulled over as for white men? Kahlil, being cheeky, his rights, out of the car, reaching for the brush, shot, dying on the road? Starr, out of the car, handcuffed? Reaction? The ambulance, his death?

10. The grief of the community, Kahlil’s mother, the reaction of King and the drug dealers? Starr and her family?

11. The repercussions for Starr, the teenage girl, the chief witness for the grand jury, her wanting to be anonymous, not revealing anything at school, to her friends, Chris and his puzzle, her mother’s concern to protect her?

12. The activist, her speeches, the visit to the house, urging Starr to be open, her mother wanting to be protective, the dilemma, the father and his principle stances?

13. Her uncle, his being on the police, his explanations, at home and his wife? The family later taking refuge with them?

14. King, his character, the drugs and the dealers, his henchmen, the gardens? The threats to Starr, to her family? The role of Alicia?

15. Starr’s friend, watching the news, her compassion for the white policeman and his family? Starr and her clash, her anger, and finally not been reconciled?

16. Starr being persuaded, to go on television, the graduating, her frank interview, talking about the dealers? Chris recognising?

17. Family going for the meal, enjoying it, the threats, Maverick going outside, King and the confrontation? The police arriving, rough treatment again, recognising Starr as the witness and backing off?

18. Prom, the dress, with Chris, the truth, his wanting to go to meet her family, Maverick’s negative reaction, the sympathetic mother, Seven and his being sympathetic? The challenge for staff?

19. The guns, her leaving, taking refuge with the uncle?

20. Seven and his being bashed, their going to the house, to rescue him, Aisha helping them out the back door?

21. The protests, the marches, the plea for peaceful demonstration, the police and their batons, shields? The slope bonds? Starr and the energy and her speech? It turning into a riot, their escaping?

22. Starr and Chris at the shop, King arriving and his locking the doors? Setting the story, Maverick arriving, the rescue?

23. The police, King arrested because of the arson?

24. A film about change in consciousness, conscience, race issues?

25. The impact for an American audience, black audience, white audience? Non- American audience? 21st-century?