ALL DAY AND A NIGHT

US, 2020, 121 minutes, Colour.
Ashton Sanders, Jeffrey Wright, Isaiah John, Shakira Ja'nai Paye, Regina Taylor.
Directed by Joe Robert Cole.

This is a very grim film, especially in its beginning. The young man is sitting in a car, muttering, gets his gun, accosts a couple on a staircase, goes into their apartment, confronts them, shoots them in cold blood in the presence of the young daughter. Audiences will be repelled. He then goes to court, saying nothing, loudly condemned by the mother of one of the victims.

The setting is African- American life in the neighbourhoods, violence, gangs, executions.

This film, written by one of the contributors to Black Panther, Joe Robert Cole, who also directed the film, wants to explore life and expectations in the community. Gradually, the screenplay builds a picture of the young man, going back to his childhood, the brutality of his father, the hesitance of his mother, his being primed for survival in the violent world. And, as a young adult, he gets caught up in it, some brutal encounters with his friend, his girlfriend becoming pregnant, the ethos of loyalties.

This is the background to the initial murder, the screenplay making many points about the neighbourhood culture, the inherent violence, almost on un-escape from this world.

The latter part of the film is set in the prison where the young man is sentenced. His brutal father is there serving a life term. The father tries to bond with his son, looking out for him, protecting him, observing. What makes the difference to the young man is that his girlfriend is pregnant and is looking forward to having a child. And, this is one saving grace, especially after there is a fight in the yard, his close friend pulling a knife on him but the young man turning the tables and killing his friend.

His mother comes to visit and he is disdainful. However, she comes again with the girlfriend and the young child which, we see, has a transforming effect on the young man.

There is some symbolism of hope as the young man works in the garden, even explaining to his father about planting a shrub and producing life.

The young man is played by Ashton Sanders and his father by veteran, Jeffrey Wright.

1. A grim story? Possibilities for hope? Redemption?

2. An African- American story? Set in American society? The neighbourhoods? Impact for wider American audiences? World audiences?

3. The introduction to Jakhor, his full name including Abraham Lincoln, in the car, muttering, decisions, the gun, going to the house, the confrontation between the husband and wife, silent, shooting them in cold blood? In the presence of their daughter? The impact of this graphic and unexplained violence for the audience?

4. Jakhor, arrested, held, caught, the outburst of the mother and condemnation, his silence, going to prison?

5. The intercutting of his past, as a boy, his friends, the brutality of his father, strapping him, putting him down verbally, his stoic reactions? His father telling him that this is how he had to survive in the world? His mother, her presence? And not intervening? The film’s comment on society, family, physical violence, psychological violence, the consequences?

6. Jakhor growing up, as a young adult, his friends, the violent atmosphere, the drugs? Relationships? Friends? Guns and shooting? His girlfriend, her pregnancy? The information that she had played in the porn video? His violent reaction to her, condemning her, and her accusing him of infidelity? Issues of friendship, issues of loyalty, Malcolm and gangs, revenge? Orders, his shooting? His close friend, their activities together, perpetrating violence?

7. Jakhor in prison, his father serving a life sentence, his relationship with his father, their talking, his father defending him, his father watching out for him? With the other prisoners? The violence in the yard? His close friend in prison? Turned against him? Attacking him in the yard, the knife, Jakhor caught turning the tables, his friend’s death? The reaction of the guards?

8. The atmosphere of the prison, the range of prisoners, African- Americans, some whites? The attitude of the guards? Routines, cells, activities?

9. Jakhor and his attitude towards his mother, grandmother, their visits? His memories of them? The characters, change of heart?

10. The importance of his girlfriend, the pregnancy, giving birth, the effect of the birth on him, memories of his childhood, the photo of his father with him as a baby, the flashbacks to this sequence?

11. The visit, the older women, his girlfriend, the baby and its effect?

12. His withdrawing, working in the garden, explaining to his father about planting a shrub?

13. Jakhor and his future – prison, change of heart, a better life?