ROOTED IN REALITY

BY: Georgia Davis

As social injustice continues to be an issue in the U.S., art and media reflect it. We wouldn’t have witnessed Jordan Peele’s debut Get Out had he not directed a film commenting on the way black people are treated in America. Now, Netflix is releasing a socially conscious film, American Son, starring Kerry Washington.

The movie is based on a play of the same name where a mother (Washington) gets a knock on the door from a police officer. Her son, who is black, is missing. That prompts a series of racially charged questions from the officer, played by Jeremy Jordan (you may know him from Smash). “Does your son go by any street names?” he asks, as well as if he has any “gold teeth.” Then, in walks her estranged husband (Steve Pasquale), a middle-aged white man. That changes the officer’s tone and reaction and we bet you can guess why.

This all takes place within the less than two-minute trailer, which serves as a microcosm for what viewers can expect in the 90-minute film. Like the play, it all takes place in the home of Washington’s character. The cast is no stranger to these roles. They are all reprising their characters after playing them on Broadway. The stage version ended its run in January 2019. Thankfully, Netflix is adapting American Son because now the stellar, emotional performances will live on. The film will also reach more people and expose these important stories to a wider audience.