SPINNING INTO BUTTER

US, 2006, 85 minutes, Colour.
Sarah Jessica Parker, Mykelti Williamson, Beau Bridges, Miranda Richardson, Victor Rasuk, James Rebhorn, Paul James.
Directed by Mark Brokaw.

Spinning Into Butter is based on some theatre pieces. At times, the speeches seem more suited to stage than screen but have a power in them, especially because of the themes.

The title, Spinning Into Butter, comes from the story of Little Black Sambo. During the credits, an animated version of this story plays. The racism is manifested by a notice about Little Black Sambo on the door of an African American student’s room. At the end of the film, Professor Strauss explains the story of Little Black Sambo, his pursuit, his confrontation of the tiger, the tiger spinning into butter and being devoured. Professor Strauss then asks whether the experience with the African American student, Simon Brick, illustrates this.

The situation with Simon Brick is that notices appear at his door, racist taunts, a noose, the spraying of the word ‘nigger’. However, ultimately, it emerges that Simon Brick has done all this himself. The question is how he has come to this stage with this image of himself that he should act in this way, despite the fact that he often quotes his father telling him to take a stance.

The film is quite powerful in its presentation of racist issues, especially in a Vermont college where the basic population is quite white – and the college is trying to diversify, bring in students from a range of ‘minority’ backgrounds, people of colour. They are not very adept at doing this and prejudices continually emerge.

Sarah Jessica Parker is the dean of studies, previously a dean at an all-black university in Chicago. She later explains how this had an effect on her and brought to the surface all her racial prejudices. Mykelti Williamson is a local television journalist who befriends the dean, has a personal relationship with her, and is the sounding board for the expression of racist attitudes. James Rebhorn is the principal of the college, Beau Bridges and Miranda Richardson are the deans of students. Victor Rasuk appears as an American of Puerto Rican background (wanting to call himself a Newrican).

The film has only a brief running time, yet establishes its characters quite powerfully and raises the issues. The impact would be strong in the United States, for and against. Audiences from outside the US have an opportunity to reflect on the traditions of racism.

1. A little-seen film? Reasons? Race, the US?

2. The Vermont setting, the isolated college, the beauty of the state, ski resort? The quiet college, the campus? The contrast with the flashbacks to Lancaster College, Chicago?

3. American race traditions? African Americans, Hispanics, Asians? The minorities? People of colour? Universities and the attempt to diversify? Innate prejudices?

4. Sarah’s speech on why she left Lancaster? Articulating her feelings, beliefs, her self-disgust at her attitudes? Aaron and his response, about blacks and whites? Sarah adding the comments on the failings of white people? The pervading theme of the film?

5. The key issue of Simon Brick? The notices on his door, the noose, the spray-painting of ‘nigger’? The fact that he himself did this? His reasons? His father’s urging, stances, fighting? The revelation of the truth? The pressure on him that he should see himself in this light and behave in this way?

6. The credits, the cartoon version of Little Black Sambo? Sambo, the dog, the tiger, the pursuit? Dean Strauss explaining the story, the title of the film and its effect? Sambo devouring the tiger spun into butter?

7. Sarah and her life, age, experience, an idealist, do-gooding? Her work for Lancaster, the flashbacks, the job, liaison, the one white person amidst the African Americans, the students, good and bad, her inability to control, discipline? The effect, her unjust judgments, her phobias in the train etc? The decision to take the position in Vermont because it was white?

8. Patrick, the scholar, the Newrican? The discussion with Sarah, the identification of his minority, the compromise? His skills concerning the environment? Twelve-thousand-dollar scholarship? Quoting his father, the return because of the financial difficulties? His finally deciding not to take the scholarship, not worth it? Sarah, urging him to go on, suggesting the compromise? Helping him with the money difficulties? The forum, Sarah urging him to speak, his intervention, the initiating of riots? His leaving?

9. Simon Brick, the notes on his door, the concern and kindness of his roommate? Even at the end supporting him? Simon as quiet, relying on Sarah, his explanations of why he wouldn’t go to the meetings? His being the cause of the riots, the spraying and the discovery of who was the culprit? His speech about himself, his image? Sarah and Aaron and their reactions? The board’s reaction?

10. Sarah and the case, going to the security guard, getting him to call the police, the deans and their not wanting publicity, wanting it to be an internal affair, the theoretical discussions about how to deal with the situation, the decision about the forum? In the church, the faculty talking down at the students, urging applause? The minister and his prayer? The white students? The arguments, the privileges for scholarships and not? The media’s attendance, filming, screening the material on television? The deans watching, having to cope? Katherine asking Sarah to make a list of how to deal with the problem? The truth of what had happened, the meeting, Sarah offering her resignation?

11. The deans, Katherine and Hart, administrator, wanting to control? Ideas? The media and the reaction? Dean Strauss, his speeches, Greg asking him to sponsor the group and his dominating? Professor Garvey as the head of the university, trying to deal with the issues? His speeches, the student reaction? The chaplain? The forum, discontent, Patrick’s intervention, the brawl, filming it for TV?

12. Aaron the initial interview with the students, meeting Sarah, their talk? His wanting fame, opportunities in Vermont? The parallel to Sarah’s experience in moving away from the big cities? Katherine meeting him and urging him away? The dates, talking, dancing? Going to the forum and filming? The discussions with Sarah and the verbalising of the prejudices? The finale with his speaking out in the television ……..?

13. Greg, approach to Sarah, wanting to do some good, benefit for his law degree and practice? Her urging him to go to Professor Strauss? The failure? Introducing him to the African American students, their sitting on the ground equally and discussing?

14. The reality of educational institutions in the US? Diversifying, the segregation of like with like? The administrators and their coping?

15. The US in the 21st century, the traditions of racial prejudice, possibilities for change?