NATIVE SON
US, 2019, 104 minutes, Colour.
Ashton Sanders, Margaret Qualley, Nick Robinson, Kiki Lane, Bill Camp, Sanaa Lathan, Elizabeth Marvel, David Allen Grier, Lamar Johnson, Stephen Mc Kinley Henderson, Barbara Sukowa.
Directed by Rashid Johnson.
Native Son is an updated screen version of the novel by Richard Wright (who directed a version of the film in the 1940s). The basic outline of the plot remains the same.
At the centre of the film is a young man Bigger Thomas, played by Ashton Sanders (who played the teen version of the central character in the Oscar-winning Moonlight). He lives at home, but has some friends who want him involved in robberies. He also has a local girlfriend. However, he gets a job with a wealthy family as a chauffeur after a successful interview.
The daughter of the family and her boyfriend are particularly wilful, living the high life, making demands on the chauffeur, concealing them from her parents.
When she makes an advance on Bigger, he defends himself, wants to cover the episode, placing a pillow over the woman and actually killing her. The film pursues Bigger’s issues of conscience, failures of conscience, exploitation of the situation.
The film is well acted by strong cast in supporting roles – and, a challenge about American society, dominance of white society, aspects, this time, of 21st century racism.
1. An adaptation of the classic novel? The earlier versions? 20th century versions? Adaptation 21st-century? Relevance, race issues?
2. The Chicago setting, contemporary, the vistas of the city, apartments, mansions, neighbourhoods? The streets and deliveries, the bars, the clubs? Driving through the city? The musical score?
3. The introduction to Big, his room, posters and possessions, his getting up, looking in the mirror, the mirror in three parts, his green hair, his eye drops and glasses? Place in the family, the grace before meals, his mother, his sister? His bike, riding to work, the meeting with Bessie, the bond with her, his other friends, the deliveries and his deceptions, the friends and wanting the robbery? Visiting the cinema? His contacts, advice, drugs? The link with the Waltons? The interview, the blind wife, accepting him? The daughter, driving her? The father going to work? His success in business? Big and his room? Going to the clubs with the daughter, her boyfriend? The types of the clubs, his staying outside, observing? Momentary glimpses of him in the swirl, reality and fantasy? His voice-over and communication?
4. His family, the background, his mother and her concern, his siblings?
5. The range of friends, the discussions, meeting in the alleys? His relationship with Bessie, her being upset? The sexual encounter with the other woman?
6. The Waltons, their comfortable life, the long serving chauffeur and his turning up and giving advice? The personalities of the parents, the daughter, relationship with Jan, his political perspectives, not going to lectures, going out, the lively parties, Big and his observations?
7. The crisis, the daughter being drunk, her provocation in her room, the mother hearing noises, Big placing the pillow over the woman, his anxiety, turning around, the pressure, discovering that she had died? The sense of denial, his decision, dragging the body, the furnace and his burning her? Not giving himself up to the police?
8. Housekeeper, finding the jewellery, the Waltons, the reaction, the police? Big shaving his head? In the cinema, the meeting with Bessie, the warehouse, desperate, his behaviour towards her, her running away? The police, his death?
9. Issues of race, neighbourhoods, segregation, black and white and sexual relationships?
10. The reason for Big’s death, the provocation of the daughter, his defensive reaction, symbolic of the white person destroying the black man?
