![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Again, my apologies to anyone seeing this twice.
Continuing on with the Top 100 Movies Marathon of Doom, last night Nat, Todd and I watched Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? I had heard of this movie (who hasn't?), but I had never seen it before.
Oh. My. God. I was missing out!
First, some plot details. ( Cut for Length )
The entire film centers on the taboo subject of interracial marriage, which at the time the film was released, was still illegal in 17 states. It was, in a word, breathtaking, heartbreaking, uplifting, sobering, and incredible.
Over the course of the film, Joey's parents are challenged to stand up and prove that they actually believe in the liberal values they've endorsed. Joey's father, especially, has trouble with this, because he believes that the problems his daughter and John (whom he does like and admire) will face will be insurmountable. He expresses his fear at one point by stating that "the two of them will end up with their brains bashed in."
John's own father has equal reservations and in a scene that utterly took my breath away, John and his father have what had to be the most raw and gut punching fight I've seen in a movie. I actually clapped my hand over my mouth to keep from gasping aloud. This scene hit me like a truck.
Here, for your viewing pleasure, from Youtube:
( That was then, this is now. Right? )
It was a beautiful, amazing movie and I'm so glad that I saw it.
Unlike my decision not to discuss race when it related to Yankee Doodle Dandy, there is no way to avoid it in discussion of this movie, since that is what the movie was about. The clips above give some indicatation as to the times, and for what it's worth, not everything spoken there seemed "dated" to me; but I was so pleased, and yes, proud, of the bits that did seem dated.
The scene discussing the hope that children born in the 60 from interracial parents could grow up to be President must have seemed so absurd to viewers at the theater. I think if you look back three years, there are a lot of people who would have still maintained that it was absurd.
Show's what they know. We have such a long way to go, but I do not think that there is anyway to deny that we have come a long way.
I grew up in Alabama. I went to my Senior Prom with a black boy that I worked with at the movie theater. He didn't even go to my high school.
I am proud to say that, although I'm certain it caused a stir, that my friends and family all seemed perfectly at ease. I remember that the person with the biggest problem with our date wasn't on my side at all - it was his mother. Having seen this movie, I think I understand a tiny bit better why... It was in 1997, 30 years after the laws prohibiting white people from having relationships with persons of color (any color) were struck down in Alabama.
My ignorant 17 year old self had no idea where his mother was coming from. Now, I can only say that I'm glad that his mother didn't prohibit our date, and contained herself with mere disapproval. I can't help but wonder if she had seen this movie, or if Poitier's words came back to her.
I have a friend who is white and whose husband is Begali. They have a five year old daughter. I have a friend who is Indian and whose husband is white. They are expecting a baby boy in two months.
I am so proud and so pleased to live in a world where I will be able look both of these beautiful children in the face and see people who can grow up to do/be anything they want. We may have a long way to go, but these children, they are our future. And from where I sit, it looks colorful and bright.
Continuing on with the Top 100 Movies Marathon of Doom, last night Nat, Todd and I watched Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? I had heard of this movie (who hasn't?), but I had never seen it before.
Oh. My. God. I was missing out!
First, some plot details. ( Cut for Length )
The entire film centers on the taboo subject of interracial marriage, which at the time the film was released, was still illegal in 17 states. It was, in a word, breathtaking, heartbreaking, uplifting, sobering, and incredible.
Over the course of the film, Joey's parents are challenged to stand up and prove that they actually believe in the liberal values they've endorsed. Joey's father, especially, has trouble with this, because he believes that the problems his daughter and John (whom he does like and admire) will face will be insurmountable. He expresses his fear at one point by stating that "the two of them will end up with their brains bashed in."
John's own father has equal reservations and in a scene that utterly took my breath away, John and his father have what had to be the most raw and gut punching fight I've seen in a movie. I actually clapped my hand over my mouth to keep from gasping aloud. This scene hit me like a truck.
Here, for your viewing pleasure, from Youtube:
( That was then, this is now. Right? )
It was a beautiful, amazing movie and I'm so glad that I saw it.
Unlike my decision not to discuss race when it related to Yankee Doodle Dandy, there is no way to avoid it in discussion of this movie, since that is what the movie was about. The clips above give some indicatation as to the times, and for what it's worth, not everything spoken there seemed "dated" to me; but I was so pleased, and yes, proud, of the bits that did seem dated.
The scene discussing the hope that children born in the 60 from interracial parents could grow up to be President must have seemed so absurd to viewers at the theater. I think if you look back three years, there are a lot of people who would have still maintained that it was absurd.
Show's what they know. We have such a long way to go, but I do not think that there is anyway to deny that we have come a long way.
I grew up in Alabama. I went to my Senior Prom with a black boy that I worked with at the movie theater. He didn't even go to my high school.
I am proud to say that, although I'm certain it caused a stir, that my friends and family all seemed perfectly at ease. I remember that the person with the biggest problem with our date wasn't on my side at all - it was his mother. Having seen this movie, I think I understand a tiny bit better why... It was in 1997, 30 years after the laws prohibiting white people from having relationships with persons of color (any color) were struck down in Alabama.
My ignorant 17 year old self had no idea where his mother was coming from. Now, I can only say that I'm glad that his mother didn't prohibit our date, and contained herself with mere disapproval. I can't help but wonder if she had seen this movie, or if Poitier's words came back to her.
I have a friend who is white and whose husband is Begali. They have a five year old daughter. I have a friend who is Indian and whose husband is white. They are expecting a baby boy in two months.
I am so proud and so pleased to live in a world where I will be able look both of these beautiful children in the face and see people who can grow up to do/be anything they want. We may have a long way to go, but these children, they are our future. And from where I sit, it looks colorful and bright.
