movie thoughts: The Hate U Give (2018)
Finally watched this. I read the book when it first came out and it was just such a fantastic book. I was worried that translating it to film wouldn't work but the movie manages to be a faithful adaptation in most respects - a few scenes are removed or take place "off camera" due to length - but the important bits are there.
What really struck me was my reaction to *seeing* this story rather than just reading it. The book is told from Starr's point of view, first person, and she spends a lot of time feeling confused, angry, and lost and so, as a reader, I also felt that way. But watching the movie and seeing her face (the amazing Amandla Stenburg)as she worked through each emotion, I was hit hardest with the true sadness of the whole situation. When you saw her fighting the tears, visibly shaking, and then just crying. Or watching the determination in her face grow as she makes a decision.
And I think watching the movie made me think about some of my own unconscious biases. In my head, the cop looked one way when everything happened, but on film, they cast a young guy and he acted a little nervous/jump about the whole thing. Even little things, like all the tattoos Starr's father has, I probably didn't imagine those every time he appeared while reading, but you can't miss them in the movie. And, of course, the reality of the protest scenes...I think when I was reading the book, a part of me wanted to see things as right/wrong but that's not reality and I think the movie did a good job of not picking sides but just showing the situation, what it triggers within a community, and how that can erupt into violence even when people want a peaceful protest.
A very good companion to the book and I would urge everyone to read the book and watch the movie. And then have some conversations.
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