Reading (Movie) Log #7 - The Hate U Give (2018) [20th Century Fox]
Tillman Jr., G. (Director). (2018). The hate u give. [Motion Picture]. United States: 20th Century Fox.
Based upon the novel of the same name by Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give is an American crime drama film directed by George Tillman Jr. that centres on sixteen-year-old Starr Carter (Amandla Stenberg). Starr witnesses the shooting of her unarmed friend Khalil (Algee Smith) by a white police officer when he stops their car after a party, and she is propelled into dual worlds asking for her advocacy and silence. The film also stars Regina Hall, Common, Issa Rae, Anthony Mackie, Russell Hornsby, and K.J. Apa.
The film adaptation follows the story of the novel very closely, and heightens components to make it a drama that will appeal to older audiences as well. It also harkens to previous movies on racial violence and political action, such as Do the Right Thing (1989), Boyz n the Hood (1991), and Fruitvale Station (2013).
The most appealing component of The Hate U Give is how it centres upon a young woman of colour and never strays from examining the intricacies of her situation. Not many films feature young women of colour in leading roles, and this film in particular presents a complex character who struggles with a variety of decisions with pressing human elements. The rest of the cast of the film are equally talented as lead Amandla Stenberg, with particular praise for Regina Hall, who plays Starr’s mother, Lisa.
The film presents a similar perspective as the novel, as it closely sticks to Starr’s perspective and interactions with other characters. The movie did not receive a traditional release pattern as major movies, so it may not have reached as wide of an audience as the novel; however, now that it is released on home video, it has the potential to reach more.
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