ON THE COME UP
US, 2022, 115 minutes, Colour.
Jamila Gray, Sanaa Lathan, Michael Cooper, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Method Man, Da' Vine Joy Randolph, Justin Martin, Titus Makin Jr, Lil Yachty, Mike Epps.
Directed by Sanaa Lathan.
The title is that of a rap song that features in this drama about a young girl with talent, memories of her talented rap father and his death, her addict mother abandoning her but returning, her wanting success.
This is a film of particular interest to the African-American target audience. It will be welcomed by those who enjoy films about rap, the creativity of language, the interactions, insults, fights and challenges. For other audiences, it will depend on their interest in the characters and drama.
At the centre of the film is a 16-year-old school student, Bri (Jamila Gray), living with her mother who had abandoned her when young after the murder of her very successful rap artist father. She lives in or in memory of him. Her mother has taken control of her life but loses her job and is searching for employment. Bri has a brother was given up opportunities to support the family financially by working in a pizza takeaway. Bri does have some friends at school, Malik very supportive, and the gay Sonny who is coming out. Also in the act is her aunt, a big strong woman who wants to manage her, who in the past belong to the neighbourhood violent gangs.
While there are scenes at school and difficulties for Bri in selling candy (and falsely accused of selling drugs), there are also scenes at a venue for rap competitions, a boxing ring where the competitors stand up, singing, rap, where Bri is at first humiliated but returns and wins the competition.
There follows, rather rapidly, her rise to success, clashes with her aunt and management, taking up with a local DJ and other entrepreneurs, going to a recording studio, living the high life in the city with her friends, making the record which has very aggressive lyrics, becomes extraordinary popular, the school students chanting it and confronting the police (who had previously been very brutal and their treatment of Bri and the accusation of drug dealing). Bri is suspended from school, clashes with her friend Malik who accuses her of selling out. And she clashes with her mother and, again, with her aunt. And, she is attacked by gang members, her father’s necklace stolen from her and Malik punched and kicked. Her aunt intervenes, shot and taken to hospital.
So, the drama of the film is ambition, success and its unwanted consequences, reinterviewed by the local disk jockey, verbally attacked and walking out. She reconciles with her friends, her mother speaks up for her at a school and parents’ meeting, goes again to the competitive venue, is challenged and insulted, gets into the ring and gives not only as good as she gets but even more, being acclaimed the winner.
She has honoured her father. She has supported her mother, even in the rap lyrics. She is reconciled with her friends and her aunt. She is only 16 and the world is before her.
The film was directed by actress Sanaa Lathan and who appears as the mother.
