JASON’S LYRIC

US, 1994, 120 minutes, Colour.
Allen Payne, Jada Pinkett- Smith, Bokeem Woodbine, Eddie Griffin, Forest Whitaker.
Directed by Doug Mc Henry.

Jason’s Lyric is a story about African Americans. It focuses on a young man, Jason, who works in a TV store, who lacks self-confidence, is fearful about love and relationships. He is diffident in his role in the family. However, he is in love with Lyric, played by Jada Pinkett- Smith (Scream, Collateral, The Matrix, Reign Over Me). Forest Whitaker has a significant role as Jason’s aggressive father.

The film is confident in its presentation of the African American community, families, relationships, struggles.

1.An African American story, for an African American audience? American audience? Worldwide?

2.The tradition of American movies about the south, types, violence, power, drugs, sexuality? Was this film different?

3.The Houston setting, the atmosphere of Texas, the city itself, the homes, shops, clubs? The Texas countryside? The musical score?

4.The impact of the title, the song?

5.The structure of the film: memories, the father and his being lyrical? The bus? Lyric?

6.The portrait of Jason: as a boy, Joshua and sullen, protective? His father and the war, drunk, violence? The gun, the shooting (and it not being revealed)? The nightmares? The later talk, slides, guilt?

7.Gloria, her marriage, fear, the boys? Later? The prison, anti-drugs? Losing her job? Jason and the future?

8.Joshua, prison? Getting out, resentful? The house, the drinking, the party cake? His friends, arguing with Jason? The drugs? The dinner? Alonzo, the drink, play, the planning, the warning? Mixing, torture, siege? Shooting Lyric? Depending on Jason?

9.The character of Lyric, the shop, pleasant, poetry? The sunset, the bridge? The picnic? The greyhound? Love and sex, hopes? Wanting to leave? Her relationship to Jason and Joshua? The visits? Mark and his appeal? Alonzo, the warning, the separation? The shooting?

10.Alonzo and company, the group, drugs?

11.Jason, creative, poetic, in love, his work, his love for Lyric, the warning, the choices? The siege?

12.Violet, contribution to the plot?

13.The tone of the film, for the black audience? The impact of the ending?