Sitting down with Spike

SPIKE Lee. Two rings on one hand. Jean jacket with a white and blue — no red — flag on the back and “Defend Brooklyn” on each shoulder.

His “BlackKklansman’s” been viewed at Cannes, in previews, homes, premieres, festivals, screenings, parties, magazine covers, and was nominated for four Golden Globes.

Monday, he told me: “Inspiration’s from everywhere. This idea began at the Martha’s Vineyard house I’ve had 20 years. In our final stages of production, I added a coda. The August 2017 racial siege in Charlottesville, Va.

“A real tough scene dealt with Heather, a protester murdered in the riot. The terrorist who did it got life in prison.

“Hardest thing I ever had to handle was to call her mother, Susan Bro, and offer condolence. Nothing I could do about the killing of her daughter. She knew who I was. She’d seen my movies. But I needed her permission to include her daughter’s image in the film. I asked if I could. I was not going to include it without her permission.”

“Not a long call. No ‘Hi, how you doin’?. I wanted to be brief. I tried being as honest, simple and humble as possible. This lady lost her daughter. She was solemn. But she gave me her blessing.”

This “storyteller into my fourth decade as a filmmaker” has two nominations and an honorary award, but he hasn’t yet really gotten his Oscar.