‘ Charm City Kings’ is the rare movie that depicts the lives of Black boys. Here are more to watch

There is a scene in “CharmCity Kings” - the new HBO Max film about a boy named Mouse navigating his way to manhood through the streets of West Baltimore - that acts like a sudden red light. Two of Mouse’s mentors, one a cop ( played by William Catlett) and the other a former criminal ( played by rapper Meek Mill), argue ove rwho’s the better influence.

“I want to make sure the same thing doesn’ t happen to any of these other Black boys,” the detective says while taking the recent parolee to task for exposing Mouse ( Jahi Di’Allo Winston) to the game.

“Black boys? What about Black boys? You don’t give a f---about Black boys,” replies Meek Mill’s character in anindictment that could easily include the film’s audience. Black boys. Who really cares about them?

“CharmCity Kings” tries to answer that question with more than a clunky “nobody.” Actually, Black boys care about each other deeply. And they are, in fact, boys: giggly, filled with bravado and anxious to shed the plump innocence of their youth.

The film, which follows Mouse’s quest to join a grown-up crew of Baltimore’ s famous dirt bike riders, is a love letter to the fading light of boyhood. “Charm City Kings” enters a short list of stories that center on Black boys and zero in on their interior lives, elevating their humanity by simply giving it screentime. Below are other movies that do just that. Some are funny, some tragic, and others completely disarming, but each film gives Black boyhood its due. - “Moonlight” ( 2016) The 2017 Oscar winner for best picture is based on Tarell Alvin McCraney’s play, “In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue.” And like the blues, “Moonlight” is a cinematic call- andresponse, exploring the links between childhood and adulthood as it follows lead character Chiron through different stages in his life, with the role played by three actors of varying ages. Written and directed by Barry Jenkins ( who also wrote the story for “Charm City Kings”),

“Moonlight” is an ode to the man Chiron could’ve been if his boyhood was given breathing room. ( Stream on Netflix) - “The Wood” ( 1999) Another story that plays with age, “The Wood” toggles between the adult story and childhood tale of three Black boys who stick together from the first day of middle school to one of its main character’s weddingday. The coming- of- age comedy ( named for its setting, the Southern California city of Inglewood), showcases how friendship is the crew’s longest- runningandmost important romance. It also put folks on to Luther Vandross’ 1982 cover of “If This World Were Mine.” ( Stream on Hulu with Starz add- on) - “Ant wone Fisher” ( 2002) A film about a Blackman wrestling with the demons of his stolen childhood, “Antwone Fisher” is triumphant even in its tragedy. One of Fisher’ s last lines -“I’ m still standing. I’m still strong.” - feels like an affirmation. Themovie is based on the true story of first- time screenwriter Antwone Fisher ( played in the film by Derek Luke), who was working as a security guard at Sony Pictures before he met with producer Todd Black. The movie was Denz el Washington’ s feature directorial debut. ( Rent on Amazon Prime) - “Dope” ( 2015) Amash- up of “Boyz n the Hood” and a classic John Hughes movie, “Dope” follows a trio of smarty- pants misfits from “the ghetto” who somehow turn into drug dealers. Shot in bold colors, the film is mostly a fun romp through South Los Angeles streets that are too often cast as dark, dreary and crime- ridden. ( Rent on Amazon Prime) - “Fresh” ( 1994) Twelve- year- old Fresh navigates the dichotomy of being a chess whiz and drug runner in ‘ 90s Brooklyn in this film. “Only reason you not the man,” one crack dealer tells Fresh, “you too ... little.” After witnessing toomuch violence - which too often pops up in plotlines starring Black boys - Fresh uses his chess- trained brain to set in motion a complicated plot to get revenge on the bad guys. Samuel L. Jackson stars as Fresh’s chess- hustlingdad. ( Stream on Pluto or rent on Amazon Prime)