Film Analysis of The Hate U Give

Film Analysis of The Hate U Give

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The movie, The Hate you Give (2018), directed by George Tillman Jr, revolves around a protagonist, Starr Carter, who lives in two different worlds. She’s an African American teenager who goes to a suburban prep school, but also lives in the slums of Garden Heights. The movie tackles issues such as racism and police brutality against the African American community.The film constitutes discrimination, racial profiling, violence and drug abuse (Tillman, 2018). As a result of these plot lines the audience will engage in an intense emotional response. In this paper we will analyze what is depicted in the movie and look at how it relates to adolescents (discussing especially its relevance to human development during adolescence) and identify central ideas pertaining to adolescence that are mirrored or highlighted in the film. We will then apply these concepts specifically to our protagonist Starr Carter (for example her experiences with racism).

The Hate you Give has several main themes that help to explain the world Starr lives in. The focus on discrimination and police brutality creates a critical perspective of African American communities. Thus, as black adolescents become more assertive in their desire for equality, we are able to comprehend their quest for recognition within the film’s context. One of the most prevalent themes is Starr’s relationship with her mother. Her mother is a violent junkie who constantly questions Starr on how much money she makes while she’s at work and whether or not Starr receives enough support from her family at home. In an attempt to contain herself from the stress and distress that has surrounded her life, she ends up relapsing on her drug addiction. The theme of addiction is explored in the short stories ‘’The Heart of a Child’’ and ‘’Cathedral’’ where we see Starr express her worry over her mother being on drugs and how her mother used to be a sweet woman who would always look after Starr. Moreover, many teenagers go through hard times with family members because of mental issues; this film provides a realistic account of these situations and how it affects the child (Tillman, 2018). In addition, bullying is also a significant theme within this movie. It is depicted through Starr’s relationship with her friends and the school bystanders. In the short story ‘’Cathedral’’, Starr had previously confided with Hailey that she thinks she “like a boy.” Although Hailey claims to support her, unfortunately things don’t end well and Hailey ends up telling everyone in school that Starr likes a boy.

Later on in the movie, when it is revealed that King was shot by a white cop, Starr becomes more proactive and vocal regarding discrimination against African Americans. Through this film we are able to comprehend what it means to be an adolescent today (young people who are going through dramatic psychological changes and growing in self-awareness). The process of growing and maturing is something that this film depicts, however, the way it portrays this was one thing that we questioned. To understand the theme of adolescence one must know what it means to age up. Adolescence is a stage in life where adolescents gain responsibilities (from taking care of their legal adult status), they experience changes in appearance, they are involved in social and sexual relationships, they are exposed to new experiences and beliefs, and they mature physically (Tillman, 2018). As such Starr becomes more assertive, she sets out on a journey for justice for a friend who did not have the same opportunities as her. Thus, Starr’s behavior and identity become more complex as she moves through adolescence.

Although the themes are realistic and relate to adolescents, it is important to understand what the film is attempting to do. In The Hate you Give, Tillman was trying to show that there is a need for social change and diversity dialogues within communities. By discussing topics such as discrimination and police brutality, Tillman wanted his audience to comprehend the realities of people who are not Caucasian or well off financially (which can be seen in his film). Although Starr Carter’s life has been difficult at times, we begin to realize more about our world through the lens of this young girl (Tillman, 2018).

The protagonist, Starr Carter, has been marginalized at times by people such as Hailey. However, in the end, it is her decision to stand up to these people who have led her life in a continuous state of oppression and discrimination. As she comes to terms with the realities that she’s faced with throughout this film, we can see how much she has grown and developed as an individual. This film illustrates the experiences of adolescents; however one should not think that this film is perfect or portrays everything about adolescence. After all adolescence is a process rather than a goal or destination. As adolescents we continue to experience changes and grow due to our emotional and physical experiences, the same thing happens in this movie(Tillman, 2018). For example, Starr begins to understand what race means for people of color through the discrimination that she witnesses and experiences in her own life. We can understand how much this has affected her as an individual from the beginning of the movie where we see her crying at the scene of a drive-by shooting (Tillman, 2018). The director uses different shots, such as close-ups, to give us a more audience-centered experience. Thus, as Starr finds herself growing up she starts thinking about more than just herself; she finds ways to make a difference in her community.

The movie depicts the equality that Starr Carter has been dreaming of all her life. This is seen in her relationship with her mother who encourages her to be the person she wants to be. She constantly challenges Starr to confront her fear and stand up against injustice in the world. Starr’s journey throughout this film is also a reflection of Tillman’s life as he was both privileged and marginalized at times as well (being raised by a single parent as well as being a child of color) (Tillman, 2018). The power that Starr holds within herself is what makes this film so impactful and eye-opening for the audience. This is because race, discrimination, and police brutality are things that plague our society today. Although there are some scenes that accurately depict the realities of growing up in a lower-class African American neighborhood, there are also some change-ups to the story line. For example, in an interview with Starr, she stated that “my mom was nicer. In real life, my mom wasn’t like that at all." Overall, we can see how relatable this film is and how it depicts the lives of many adolescents and young adults today.The movie illustrates the reality of today’s society which is that it’s not all about you, rather we need to be aware and take action for the people who are marginalized. As such Starr Carter’s story is a reminder of our own lives and how much work needs to be done.

The power that Tillman incorporated throughout this film was impressive. The use of music to accentuate certain scenes in this film was appropriate. For example, when Starr finds out that her friend was shot by a police officer Tillman used classical music to lead the audience’s attention to the scene. The music adds to the emotions and feelings that Starr is going through. In addition, the soundtrack was particularly powerful because of its significance throughout this film (Tillman, 2018). As a means of communication and culture, music is used today as a way to connect individuals and communities. Therefore, this movie could relate to various people in different ways due to its original music being used as a means of bringing together people in diverse ways based on their musical tastes and experiences.

The director Tillman also incorporated live action shots at certain scenes during the end credits along with short dialogue scenes portrayed by persons of color portraying various characters such as “Professor Jamal” and Murphy (Tillman, 2018). This was a powerful way to show the audience that this film “speaks to” various people because of all the various groups of people who will be affected by the messages being conveyed.

The focus that this film has on social justice and diversity dialogues is something that we can relate to as adolescents. As adolescents, we all experience different aspects of growing up such as puberty, social changes, and identity formation. The director Tillman was able to capture these experiences in a realistic and justified way through his movie The Hate you Give. We believe that this film could be a great tool for helping others understand the realities of adolescence today and how we can help each other become better people. Even though this film centers around the experiences of an adolescent girl in a different environment, the theme of social justice and equality is something that students can relate to. Students have the power to change their world for the better by incorporating these themes into their own lives in hopes of making the world a better place for everyone.

Based on the investigation and defined analysis this film has been deemed as a piece of propaganda that is intended to persuade the public of certain views, opinions, and values with an ultimate purpose of changing one’s beliefs. As a result, The Hate U Give illustrates the journey of Starr Carter who is marginalized due to her identity as being an African American. As she begins to find herself she realizes that there is more to her than just the color of her skin. Her struggles are accurate and relatable which enables this film to be impactful and eye-opening for those watching it (Tillman, 2018). This movie displays how much courage it takes for Starr to stand up against injustice in her community despite all its challenges. Moreover, this movie clearly marks the beginning of a revolution. This is because Starr realizes that her voice matters, and she is willing to speak up for those who have been marginalized the most. As a result, this film incorporates various messages and themes such as discrimination, racism, police brutality, inequality among others to make it comprehensive. Therefore, The Hate U give speaks to many different people. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey she stated that “The Hate U Give” is “One of the most important film I’ve ever watched in my life” The format of the film was impactful because it really gave a sense of how hard it is for many people to live in such conditions.

In conclusion, this movie can be seen as a reflection of the real-life struggles and difficulties that many people deal with today. As a result, this film can be seen as relatable for those who will watch it. This is because it shows how much courage it takes for Starr to stand up against injustice in her community despite all its challenges. This film is also eye-opening for those who watch it because we can see what the director Marlon Tillman has accomplished through his various efforts to make this story come alive. The Hate U Give is a powerful movie that exemplifies quite accurately what it’s like growing up in the ghetto or lower class of America today (Tillman, 2018).

References

Tillman, Jr. (Director). (2018). The Hate U Give (Film). Fox 2000 pictures