About Native Son

Native Son is a 2019 American drama film directed by Rashid Johnson, in his directorial debut. The film is a modern day adaptation of the classic novel by Richard Wright and charts the story of Bigger Thomas, a young African-American living in Chicago, who is hired as a chauffeur by a wealthy businessman and has his world shaken when tragedy strikes.

Making / Production

The film was produced by A24, and it was the directorial debut for visual artist Rashid Johnson. The screenplay was written by Suzan-Lori Parks, who is the first African-American woman to receive a Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The inspiration behind the movie was to highlight societal issues related to race, class, and the legal system in America.

Actors

• Ashton Sanders as Bigger Thomas. Sanders was praised for his powerful performance as the protagonist - lending depth and complexity to the character.
• Margaret Qualley as Mary. Qualley captured the naivety and privilege of her character with grace.
• Nick Robinson as Jan. Robinson excels in his role as Jan, Mary's boyfriend, demonstrating a certain awareness of, yet blindness to the societal inequalities.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film was entirely shot in Cleveland, while the story is set in Chicago.
• The hawks in the movie symbolize Bigger's struggles and his attempts to find freedom.

Awards

While the film did not receive significant awards, its unique retelling of the Richard Wright novel has been recognized and praised for highlighting the ongoing issues of social inequality.

Quotes

• "You just gotta decide what kind of man you wanna be. When you decide, then you start being him."
• "No matter what we do, it ain’t never enough for them."

Music, Soundtrack

• "Winds from the East" by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein
• "Father, Father" by Pop Staples