STRAPPED

US, 1993, 104 minutes, Colour.
Bokeem Woodbine, Michael Biehn, Kia Goodwin, Fredro Star, Paul Mc Crane, Samuel E. Wright, Isaiah Washington, Craig Wasson.
Directed by Forrest Whittaker.

Strapped is a New York streets thriller, a black neighbourhood of Brooklyn. It focuses on a young man who has been in jail but who is now concerned about the safety of the baby of his pregnant girlfriend.

She has been arrested for dealing in drugs. One of the ways out of the situation is to do a deal with the police (Michael Biehn) who operates on gun crime in Brooklyn.

The film raises the moral dilemmas and the race dilemmas for young people – and the setting of the 1990s was the setting of the past as of subsequent years. Should the young man be a snitch and collaborate with the police and so endanger his life on the street? Should he make decisions solely for the care of his girlfriend and the baby? In fact, the film takes a rather pessimistic tone and does not really resolve the issues, certainly not in a happy ending style.

Bokeem Woodbine is persuasive in the central role? Michael Biehm (Aliens, The Abyss) is the tough policeman. There is a good supporting cast including Craig Wassen as a gunrunner, a suburban New Yorker selling guns on the street to young people. In fact, with the information given about deaths at the end of the film as well as the proliferation of guns, it is a very strong anti-gun film.

The film was directed by actor Forrest Whittaker (Good Morning Vietnam, Bird, Panic Room, Green Dragon). It is a tough film with the language and the music of the streets. Whittaker, however, was to go on to direct very romantic films: Waiting to Exhale, First Daughter, Hope Floats.

1.The slang of the title? As applied to the various characters, especially those in trouble, especially Diquan?

2.A film of the street, the African American neighbourhoods? The traditions, the poverty, families trying to make good, possibilities for crime, drug-dealing, addiction, prison sentences, lack of rehabilitation after prison, the gun culture, the casual shootings on the streets, the accidents? A grim picture?

3.The film as a story about guns, the gun culture of the United States? The gun culture with the police, with the African American community in the big cities? An anti-gun culture film?

4.The shootings in the film: the opening, the fight between the two young men, one suddenly pulling the gun and killing the other? Diquan and his helping his friend, hiding the gun? The easy availability of guns during the film? The shops and the questions? Ben as the gun dealer? The gangs getting guns? The individuals, the young boy? The shooting in the shop? Bamboo and his anger with the Korean storekeeper, pulling the gun, hearing the noise, shooting the child? The callous and unfeeling attitudes?

5.Diquan, his age, background, not studying, drugs, in prison? At home, his mother and grandmother, his sister? Their dependence on him? Helping his friend after the shooting? His concern about Letitia, her pregnancy? Wanting the best for her? Her arrest? The encounter with the police? With Matthew Mc Crae? The discussions, his anger, wanting the deals? Not trusting the police? His giving the information? Trying to keep out of sight? The information not being enough, the judge and the attorneys and their decisions? The gun-dealing, Bamboo, Ben and his being present, Ben’s antagonism? His giving the information to Mc Crae, the filming of the deals? The arrest – but not enough evidence for conviction? His desperation, the friendship with Bamboo, the visits to Letitia in the prison? Her getting out? The plans for the baby? His plans for moving away, starting a new life? The shooting, his running? The interrogations? His final decision not to give information about Bamboo? Running the risk of death on the streets? Bamboo and his going into the home, the shots, pursuing Diquan? Going to court, admitting to the killing that he didn’t do? Protection in jail? Protection for Letitia?

6.Letitia, pregnant, her selling the drugs, in jail, pregnant? The visits, the bashing in jail, wanting to get out? The plans, going to the bus station – and waiting?

7.Mc Crae, his work in Brooklyn, white background, black partner? The work with gunrunners on the streets? His listening to Diquan as he came in and attacked the desk sergeant? The plan, the deal? His inability to fulfil the deals? Antagonism with Diquan, Diquan’s verbal abuse, his threatening him? The information about the guns, pursuing it? Ringing the attorney and getting the okay for dropping the charges against Letitia? The frustration of his work?

8.Ben, the suburban man, selling the guns, his pride in his guns? Getting the parcels, having the permit? The arrest at home, his confidence with the police? The district attorney saying there were no grounds for continued arrest? His putting the word out against Bamboo? Finally seen continuing his work? His clients, their age, the gangs, the kids?

9.Bamboo, callous, the gun deals, his age, family, friendship with Diquan, the shootings, callous? Running from the police – and being released and on the streets?

10.The various young men in the neighbourhood, the gangs, the guns, the drugs, hanging out? Lack of prospects?

11.Law enforcement, the district attorneys, the judges, the deals, the court cases, the frustrations?

12.The background music, the rap, the lyrics and their comment on what was going on? Authentic atmosphere?

13.A film of the New York streets – always relevant?