About 4 Little Girls (HBO)

4 Little Girls is a gripping documentary released in 1997 by HBO, directed by Spike Lee. It is a poignant and deeply moving account of the racially-motivated bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama that took the lives of four young girls in 1963 during the height of the Civil Rights movement.

Plot and Summary

The documentary explores the events leading up to, during, and following the tragedy. Through interviews with the girls' families, prominent civil rights activists, politicians, and community members, Lee provides an in-depth look at the brutality of racism, courage of the civil rights movement, and the profound personal and community grief caused by the bombing.

Making / Production

The film was produced and directed by Spike Lee. It was extremely powerful in crafting a compelling narrative of the civil rights era, combining both historical footage and personal interviews. Lee spent over a decade conducting interviews and gathering data before the film was finally released.

Actors

4 Little Girls is primarily composed of real footage and personal interviews. Key interviewees include:

• Chris McNair - the father of victim Denise McNair, who speaks to his personal pain and the greater horror of racial hatred.
• Maxine McNair - mother of Denise McNair, who shares her perspectives and grief about losing her daughter.
• Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth - a noted civil rights activist who discusses the racially-charged environment of the time.
• Helen Pegues - a friend of the victims, who provides an intimate connection to the girls and their story.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• Director Spike Lee was inspired to make the movie after he watched a television documentary on the tragedy while at university.
• Though Lee asked for the rights to cover this story in 1987, he had to wait until 1993 before Chris McNair, father of victim Denise McNair, granted his approval for the project.

Awards

4 Little Girls received several nods from the awards circuit. The most significant accolade was an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary in 1998.

Quotes

• "The brutal death of these little girls might well serve as the redemptive force for this city, and truly for the nation." - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Music, Soundtrack

• The soundtrack of the movie features moving and evocative pieces that contribute to the film's somber mood, including the spiritual 'Birmingham Sunday' performed by Joan Baez.