May 2001
Film Review : Our Song
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May 2001
Film Review : Our Song | ||
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by Wilson Morales (New York)
Film Review - Our Song
In today's world, movies of all genres never surprise the audience.
Most plots are contrived to fool us or to get our attention.
Currently, in the teenage market, all films carry the same plots; romance
and lots of tomfoolery - never dramatic. There hasn't been a film where one
could really think back to their childhood, until now. A few years
ago, Jim McKay directed a small film, “Girls Town,” which exploited the
troubled lives of teenage girls. That film showed a sense of realism.
Now in his next feature, “Our Song,” McKay once again excels in showing
the realism of teenage girls growing into adulthood.
What makes this film about friendship great is the level of realism it
incorporates. As kids and teenagers, friends do lots of things
together, whether it is sleeping in each other's house, borrowing clothes,
and even going to school together. But as the days and years go by,
friends grow older and Do you want to discuss this article with other community members? Have any comments on black film? Then go to our Community section -- http://www.blackfilm.com/community/
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"Our
Song" follows three teenage friends, Lanisha (Kerry Washington), Maria
(Melissa Martinez), and Joycelyn (Anna Simpson) through the August streets
of Crown Height, Brooklyn. During the closing weeks of summer, these
girls endure rigorous rehearsals with their sixty-piece marching band, while
biding their time shoplifting, daydreaming, flirting with boys, and
confronting the rising tensions within their own friendship. When the
girls learn their school is closing due to asbestos, each has to make a
decision about the future. While they contemplate going back to
school, getting a job, and dealing with other issues, they gradually move
into adulthood. Through it all, their song "Ooh Child" remains one
of hope and dreams.
learn
a lot more about life. Some make good decisions while others don't.
It's all part of adulthood. One could see this film and realize that
there's nothing contrived about the ways these girls change. The
acting throughout the cast is excellent. Washington, Martinez, and
Simpson all convey realism through their emotions. Each actress is a
newcomer to the film world, and McKay must be commended for discovering
their talent early. The script is intelligent and poignant. Some
may read those lines and say that was them years ago. The film was actually
shot in Crown Heights, Brooklyn to give it a real flavor and the use of the
marching band to score the theme and title of the film is superb. As
the summer approaches with many Hollywood blockbusters coming our way, this
film won't probably play at many multiplexes. If this film is in your
area, go and see it today because you rarely get great films nowadays.