Movie Analysis of a Raisin in The Sun

When watching a film, such as A Raisin in the Sun, one has to go into it with an open mind and a little skepticism. I generally don’t like older movies because of the way the people dress, the acting, and the quality of the picture. And granted, the camera not being steady did annoy me a little, but it quickly faded into the background as I was drawn into the plot that slowly unfolded.

The setting, lighting, costumes, and props worked for backdrop of the story and the characters. Opening into a tiny apartment in the city where a woman leaves before the sun is up gives off the impression that they are working hard end jobs in order to support themselves. The dusty furniture and mismatched decorations that occupy the living room show that they aren’t the most well off, but they make it work with what they have. And the never-ending stream of people that walk through the tiny apartment only to leave to their own jobs shows multiple people making the best of a situation that is making them all stressed out. When the elusive check comes in the mail and is delivered to the family, everyone acts as though it’s going to save them all and give them a better life than the one they currently have. While watching the film, I saw the check as a symbol of hope for the family. They were still working dead end jobs that they considered demeaning with the hopes that the American Dream would be right around the corner, after just one more hard day of working for people who didn’t look twice at them. The son played the part of the dreamer, who believed in making money quick with little security, and in turn almost caused the family’s world to come crashing down when his latest fast-track idea. The sister is the hopeless romantic, who appears to lead two guys on although she has her sights on one of them. The wife is continually stressed out throughout the movie, and the mother seems to be the kind-hearted old woman who has never-ending faith that the good life she has always wanted for her family will happen someday. The characters give this film an interesting dynamic because we see the hardships and tense relationships they share with each other, but also the strong family loyalty they have when it really comes down to it. The lighting throughout the film seemed mild to me, as though it was never completely bright enough to be considered happy, at least until the very end when the characters are able to move out of their small apartment and into a house that holds promise for a brighter future.

The film A Raisin in the Sun made an impression on me I didn’t expect. I don’t know exactly what I was expecting, but thanks to the incredible acting of the actors I was able to see a group of people who were living in less than idealistic ways, but who had continual faith that their luck and lives would change. I enjoyed the film because it surprised me. It’s not a movie I’d usually choose to watch, but it made an impact on me that I wouldn’t have had otherwise.