Lately, in film, there has been a surge in Black directors showcasing the Black experience in an absurdist way.
Shows like Atlanta and movies like Sorry To Bother You portray how Black people need to act to be successful and the ways that affect their personal lives. The next to follow in line with those productions is American Fiction, the story about a Black novelist trying to become a novelist.
Monk, portrayed by Jeffrey Wright, is a college professor and novelist, who prefers that all aspects of life be intellectual. Monk struggles to maintain relationships with his sister, played by Tracee Ellis Ross, and his brother, played by Sterling K. Brown.
With his life stagnating around him, Monk returns home to Boston for a book conference and to begrudgingly spend time with his family. At the conference, he meets Sintara Golden, portrayed by Issa Rae, who has written a new bestseller, We’s Lives in Da Ghetto, her so-called experience about coming out of the hood. Frustrated with the fact that another story about Black trauma is the nation’s bestseller, Monk ensues on a journey of creating his own so-called “Black story,” My Pafology, and a struggle to prove that Black people are more than their trauma.
To no one’s surprise, the book becomes the nation’s next bestseller, and now Monk struggles to justify his newfound fame by learning to be accepting of people for who they are.
One of the themes of American Fiction, directed by Cord Jefferson, is Black exploitation for profit. In particular, when discussing the book deal for Monk, when the publicist is told that the ‘author’ is an ex-convict her eyes light up. There are more scenes in the movie that Black people will relate to that cause laughter in white audiences, and I think this adds to the strength of the movie. In real-time, you can experience the uneasy feeling Monk has around the white book publishers, as you feel uneasy around your white audience members.
Overall, American Fiction is an excellent movie to watch with witty commentary on Black trauma.
American Fiction hits select theaters on December 15 and everywhere on December 22.
