Films for good

In these troubled times, as our country becomes more fragmented, more balkanized, can art, specifically film, serves as a force to help bring America back together?

I saw two really good movies over the last two weeks that could help heal us, if just a little, as a people. “The Hate U Give” and “Blindspotting” both deal principally with the same issue: unarmed young black men being shot and killed unjustly by police officers. But they deal with more with that, including the concept that friendship, even kinship, have nothing to do with race and everything to do with souls coming together for the greater good.

While both are fine films, I liked “Blindspotting” better because it isn’t preachy, it’s funnier and it’s more daring. Much of the dialogue in “Blindspotting” is also done in verse, which adds to its uniqueness and urgency.

Set in Oakland, not far from where I grew up, “Blindspotting” is the story of a young black man named Collin who is trying to stay out of trouble in a bad neighborhood on the last three days of his probation. The problem is there is trouble all around him, much of it stemming from his best friend since childhood, a white street dude named Miles who, despite his huge flaws, is unfailingly loyal to Collin.

“The Hate U Give” is about a teen girl who sees her childhood best friend unjustly shot by a police officer who mistakenly takes a brush in the young man’s hand for a gun. The girl is then dragged into a world that involves media coverage, grand jury testimony and pressures from her own rough neighborhood connected to snitching. “The Hate U Give” is more even-handed than “Blindspotting” regarding police officers’ perspectives on such shootings and it also provides touching lessons on how family bonds can get us through the toughest times.

“The Hate U Give” has received rave reviews and is theaters now. “Blindspotting” garnered great notices and comes out on video this month. Both are getting Academy Awards attention and are more than worth seeing.

But will they make a difference in a country as fragmented as ours is right now? Can art help us heal?

Those of us involved in such pursuits can only do our best and hope. Even in the family movies I’ve had made, I try to put in subtle messages about how we can all come together and make our society better, no matter our colors or religious beliefs.

I believe being preachy about doesn’t work as well as being subtle, that trying to make people think, and rethink, through humor and warmth is more effective than getting in people’s faces, particularly in this age when there are so many people in others’ faces.

Movies and television are pervasive forces in our society. They can make a difference. And at this point they really need to, because all of this racial and religious hate we are suffering through is not sustainable in any country.

Yes, we need changes in leadership in this nation and we need to remove those who foment hate. More than that, though, we need to change millions of hearts and change millions of minds, and we can’t do so by just telling those we disagree with that they are wrong and stupid. They’ve heard that for a long time, aren’t listening anymore and aren’t changing for the better. In fact, they may even be getting worse. Look at Pittsburgh. Look at Louisville.

But getting people to see “The Hate U Give” or “Blindspotting” might warm their hearts, or open their minds, just a little.

That’s a start, and that’s better than nothing.