A Raisin in the Sun
"One of the most powerful films to grace the 1961 screen" - Hollywood Citizen-News
A Raisin In The Sun is a groundbreaking drama celebrating the human spirit, featuring an electrifying performance by Academy Award winner Sidney Poitier (Best Actor, Lilies of the Field, 1963).
The Younger family, frustrated with living in their crowded Chicago apartment, sees the arrival of a $10,000 insurance check as the answer to their prayers. Matriarch Lena Younger (Caudia McNeil) promptly puts down a payment on a house in an all-white suburban neighborhood. But the family is divided when Lena entrusts the balance of the money to her mercurial son Walter Lee (Poitier), against the wishes of her daughter (Diana Sands) and daughter in law (Ruby Dee). It takes the strength and integrity of this African-American family to battle against generations of prejudice to try to achieve their piece of the American Dream.
Member Reviews
I tried to like it... - Flourish
I started watching this movie with optimism, but was quickly bored of it. For the era, it was hailed as a great film, and some still love it today. I felt it was slow, and the performances were quite uneven. It does have a good "stand up for what's right" ending, though it was quite predictable. Knowing what's going to happen right from the start is never a great way to watch a long movie; you just end up waiting around for the ending.
I would say give it a chance, at least. This seems to be a movie that some love, and some really don't.Brilliant - FilmJunkie
This film based on a play is the story of three generations of an African-American family living together in a tiny two bedroom apartment in Chicago. The film deals with civil rights, the role of women of colour in modern society and the pride of ma...(read more)ny black people in a changing society.
Sidney Poitier stars as Walter, a married man living with his wife, son, sister and mother in this small space who is trying to make a name for himself despite the controlling women in his world. His mother is played magnificently by Claudia McNeil. She gets all the great speeches of the film, and she represents a generation that was happy not being slaves in a world where black people wanted to be more than 'free', they wanted to be 'equal'. Walter's wife, Ruth, is played by the lovely Ruby Dee. Ruth is coping with an unhappy marriage and an unwanted pregnancy and in her we deal with abortion rights and a woman who is struggling to keep everyone together. Finally, Diana Sands plays Walter's sister, Beneatha. She is studying to be a doctor and thus brings in the new idea that a black woman in America could be whatever she wanted, supposedly. She meets a man from Nigeria and becomes enthralled by wanting to be African and not an "assimilationist". In Beneatha, we see the roots of the African-American people and the quest to embrace that history without forgetting the reality that they have been Americans for several generations.
This is a complex emotional drama that takes place mainly in their one small apartment. It is filled with strong female characters that are constantly breaking away from the boundaries of cinema at that time. The script by Lorraine Hansberry, adapted from her play, is a remarkable feat that allows all sides to have their say without taking anyone's side.Powerful Drama - lmav1
This is a powerful movie that is not out-of-date even today. It is a movie about hopes and dreams, fear, anger, greed and a search for identity. There are strong performances from each of the cast members. Emotions range from anger and desparation to joy and laughter as a family struggles to find their way towards the "Great American Dream" and comes up against roadblocks that they must deal with - alcohol, greed, prejudice and racism.
I highly recommend this movie.
Member Reviews
Read All...
I tried to like it... - Flourish
I started watching this movie with optimism, but was quickly bored of it. For the era, it was hailed as a great film, and some still love it today. I felt it was slow, and the performances were quite uneven. It does have a good "stand up for what's right" ...Brilliant - FilmJunkie
This film based on a play is the story of three generations of an African-American family living together in a tiny two bedroom apartment in Chicago. The film deals with civil rights, the role of women of colour in modern society and the pride of ma...(read ...Powerful Drama - lmav1
This is a powerful movie that is not out-of-date even today. It is a movie about hopes and dreams, fear, anger, greed and a search for identity. There are strong performances from each of the cast members. Emotions range from anger and desparation to joy ...