Synopsis
We Grown Now is a fascinating coming of age movie, directed by Minhal Baig, located around Chicago’s Cabrini-Green housing projects in the early 90s. Malik and Eric, the two young boys in the movie, become best friends and support each other throughout. One of the main focuses of the film is how children witness and perceive the problematic realities that surround them, such as gentrification and inequality alongside their community going through the changes.
The boys live in a world of dreams and imagination, capturing the magic of childhood. However, the worries of gentrification loom over them, and they grow fearful of losing their homes. The movie manages to accurately portray the problem of home loss and how it ends up breaking the community all apart. With the help of their mothers, Malik and Eric manage to cope through the poverty and discrimination that they face during the movie, making it a bittersweet experience. We Grown Now is a heartfelt view when it comes to change and the feeling of ‘home’.
Cast & Crew
Director: Minhal Baig
Main Cast:
Blake Cameron James as Malik: He played the role of Malik beautifully; from the childlike awe to the feeling of hurt of knowing he has something to lose in the process.
Gian Knight Ramirez as Eric: Ramirez’s portrayal of Malik’s childhood friend Eric adds comedy, tenderness, and a pinch of insecurity to the character.
S. Epatha Merkerson as the Grandmother: Merkerson adds heft and emotional scope to the narrative as a domineering but affectionate matriarch.
Jurnee Smollett as Dee: Smollett perfectly embodies Malik’s fiercely nurturing mother whose sole purpose is to secure her family’s tomorrow.
We Grown Now is an intensely personal story that has been expertly complemented by the remarkable cast and Baig’s wisdom as a director.
Themes and Analysis
Friendship and Innocence:
As simple as it is, We Grown Now is a film that beautifully tells the story of childhood friendships and how the two young boys lived in their fantasies in order to escape harsh truths. Even with the walls around Malik and Eric broken down, their universe feels limitless that showcases the beauty and happiness of being young during hard times.
Community and Displacement: The film dissects the impacts of gentrification and displacement showcasing how these forces destroy not just houses but attach people’s culture and feelings towards neighborhoods. Kennedy was accurate and respectful toward Cabrini-Green Housing Project, which now serves as a character itself, representing home, honor and then destruction. Family and Resilience: The mothers’ and grandmothers’, impressive s continuity gives credence to the lifestyle of black family in historically disadvantaged communities over some centuries. The affection and pain of the anticipated loss of the house through their eyes accompanied their love and sacrifice. Cinematography and Visual Style The cinematography of the film under Fimognari Michael wraps the feel blocks cuts with warmer tone in an attempt to capture intimacy and nostalgia and manage to achieve this cinematical narrative, while handheld camera works during the boys’ free-spirited moments hint at unscripted moments, long shots of Chicago shift to which sky indicate the ever-approaching historical timelines. The production design takes the audiences deeper into the reality of Cabrini-Green even starting from the walls decorated by sprays to the small apartments.
Critical Reception
Kristofer Baig with his masterpiece We Grown Now has proved his critics wrong by receiving notable praise for combining the nuances of politics with personalism. The film giving respect and due credit for representation of Black families and communities has only been popularized with the help of the skillful yet emotional performances of child actors helping them shine on screen.
IMDb Rating : 8.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 95% (Certified Fresh)
Audience Reception
The film’s gripping retention of authenticity in an emotional state and visual representation of Chicago in the 90s has left audiences spellbound in a stunning state. The heartwarming film showcasing friendship, community, and family resilience shed light on the harsh realities of public housing, leaving the viewers in tears, especially during the bittersweet culmination where peace was restored yet progress came with a cost.
Conclusion:
We Grown Now is a film that should also be presented alongside the issues of social justice, as it is a film message that responds to us now and wants us to evolve and become better. Minhal Baig as a director proves to be tender yet furious, and always focused. It is through the attempts of two boys to change the way that the world perceives them that we are able to comprehend the approach the director has taken towards tackling the problems posed by society. Talented actors who are gifted with an abundance of engrossing and dynamic narratives mean that their combined performance is able to resonate with many people and meet a wide variety of individuals’ tastes. This is also confirmed by the successful reception the film received at the summer festival circuit as it does indeed allow for a glimpse into the complexities of growing up in a foreign country while unabashedly being an alien.
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