the CHAINS that bind

I think the poster says a thousands words all at once. The metaphor is that our hearts are often bound in chains, never our souls. When one inch is pulled too far in one direction, we lose all sensibility. Another grasp pulls the same chains tighter, causing a lifetime of misery. Who hasn't felt it? Who has never felt the blues deep down in their souls? Written by me for Denecia Alicia, "The blues ain't nothing but a good man feeling bad," now we all know that's just what it must feel like. Black Snake Moan (2006), is my proof. Directed by Craig Brewer (Hustle and Flow) and  produced by John Singleton, this film utilizes actors like Samuel L. Jackson, Christini Ricca, and Justin Timberlake to make it all worth watching and remembering.

Brewer likes to play with stereotypes and eventually unveils them in his narrative. It's his argument towards society, forcing viewers to actually look at the ideologies ground deep within their hearts. The realistic believability of it all is set in Southern Macon. The White female (Ricci), permissive or not, is never safe in the hands of a White male. She is especially not safe in the company of a Black male (Jackson and many more) because it is supposedly the nature of the negro to desire, devour, and deflower her amongst all other races of women. Although he chains her, he believes it is for the benefit of Ricci. One thing haunts Jackson, his loss of Rose to his brother and the abortion of his only child. The only thing that he wants from the White, petite, sexual, and sick Ricci is for her to "get yo' shit together and live your life."

Ricci is remininsecnt of millions of girls who have used their sexuality to define themselves. Women like her have been abused as children by people they've trusted and at many times their mothers are their biggest enemies. Her past often reminds me of some of Sonia Sanchez's poetry, espescially in its essence to expertly speak of the addict who sells her most precious child to a man just so she can have her high, whatever it may be. So I feel Ricci's character as well because she deals with her demons on a daily basis. This film deals with the fears we take in deep at night as we try to filter out what's wrong from what's right. There are a dozen lessons we could learn here but the ultimate one is not to let our past hurts define or create who we can become.

Besides the melodramatic; the editing, camera angeles, and lighting all work together to make profound statements. My favorite scene is when the camera is completely tilted over, blue filter, and Ricci is naked, completely oblivious to everything around her. I'm sure that scene happens at least 100 times (or more) every weekend across the USA. I'd love to show this film to a group of teenagers and get their responses and ask them to help make movies about their lives, leaving nothing out. These types of stories need to be told, over and over again. And the moral of the story: it only takes one person to stand up and tell you that you are worthwhile even if the world tells you that you something completely different. Tomorrow I'm going to look for a chain belt! I think millions of females could benefit from one.