Boyz N the Hood (1991,USA)

Director

John Singleton

Cast

Cuba Gooding Jr (Tre Styles), Ice Cube (Doughboy), Tyra Ferrell (Mrs Baker), Larry Fishburne (Furious Styles), Angela Bassett (Reva Devereaux), Morris Chestnut (Ricky Baker)

Screenplay

John Singleton

Format

Live action, colour

Language

English

Running time

120 minutes

Classification

15

Distributor

Tristar/Columbia

Genre

Contemporary drama

Setting

Los Angeles in 1990 at a time when racial tensions and gang warfare in America were a prevalent concern

Main characters

Tre Styles, a popular eighteen year old: Furious Styles, Tre's father who brings Tre up.

Narrative focus

Tre is the focus across one summer with his family and friends

Synopsis

LA, 1984. At the start of the film, Tre Styles is a confident and popular 11-year-old living with his mother in south central LA. As a teenager, he goes to live with his father who teaches him how to deal with problems and conflicts and encourages him not to use drugs. He has hopes of going on to college, a girlfriend, Brandy, and his two close friends Doughboy and Ricky. Doughboy has a tendency to get into trouble with a rival gang. Tre and Ricky apply for college. In their neighbourhood gang, tensions rise. Tre's best friend is shot dead in a drive-by shooting. Tre gets his place at college and leaves south central LA behind.

Background

The film was financed by major Hollywood studio Columbia Pictures. John Singleton is an African American film director who was only 22, recently graduated from the University of Southern California film school in Los Angeles, when he wrote and directed Boyz N the Hood. He became an industry celebrity with this film, winning Best Screenplay at the Oscars in 1992. Singleton has continued directing films in Hollywood.

The issue of racism is central to American politics and culture and has been part of its film history since the earliest years, in films such as Birth of a Nation (US, 1933, D W Griffiths). Boyz N the Hood was made at a time when Los Angeles experienced riots and racial tension, sparked by police brutality towards Rodney King and followed in the tradition of Spike Lee's films, notably Do the Right Thing (US, 1989) and Malcolm X (US, 1992). Boyz N the Hood was a critical and commercial success, using conventional dramatic techniques to explore issues of gun culture, masculinity, drug use, sex and the role of parents. It is a good example of a wide-ranging collection of films about the experience of young black men in contemporary, urban America. To some extent Boyz N the Hood sparked new interest, expanding on the films of Spike Lee.

Commentary

Boyz N the Hood's greatest strength is its combination of genre devices, derived from thrillers and the action film, with social realism, reflecting the life of black people in LA. The mise en scène challenges the stereotypical images of black men in urban environments. For example, in the scene when we first meet Tre's father, Furious, he is introduced in soft afternoon light and surrounded by leaves on his lawn and later, when he speaks with Tre about the army, they are by the sea.

Also recommended

Do the Right Thing (US, Spike Lee, 1989) is a drama exploring the racial and other community tensions in a New York neighbourhood on the hottest day of the year.

Grand Canyon (US, 1991, Lawrence Kasdan) looks at the lives of several middle class friends living in Los Angeles.

Teaching suggestions (Key Stage 4, age 14-16)

Citizenship focus

• Resolving conflict fairly
• Importance of playing an active part in democratic and electoral processes
• Opportunities for individuals and voluntary groups to bring about change.

Subject links:

Geography: A city in the USA

History: Black people's struggle for Civil Rights in the USA

Spot the shots

Watch the scene at the end of the film where Tre goes to avenge the death of his best friend.

• What is the effect of the crosscutting between Tre and his father?
• How does the editing style create suspense?
• How does the final scene set up a contrast between Tre and Doughboy and emphasise the importance of resolving conflict fairly?

Discussion

The following questions can be used as a starting point to focus discussion before generalising the issues that the film raises.

• How is Furious a role model for Tre and his friends?
• What does Furious think is wrong with the black community of South Central LA?
• How does Furious think that individuals and voluntary groups can bring about change in the local neighbourhood?
• How does Furious get his message across to other people in the community?
• How does Furious teach Tre to play an active part in democratic processes?
• How is Furious similar to the historical political figure of Malcolm X?
• What is Doughboy's criticism of Furious' ideas?
• Whose position do you most identify with and why?
• How does the film's ending encourage us to identify with Furious' position?
• Why do you think John Singleton, the director, wanted to make this film?
• What two statistics do you learn at the beginning of the film?
• Who do you think the target audience for this film was?

Character hot-seating

Nominate or ask students to volunteer to play each or one of these roles: Furious, Tre, Ricky and/or Doughboy

• Get students to interview them about their motivations and actions in the story.

Then nominate or ask students to volunteer to play each or one of these roles: Tre's mother, Doughboy's mother and/or Brandy

• Interview them about their understanding and opinions of the actions of the boys and men in the film.

Drama role-play

Set up a role-play where a conflict arises between one of the characters and a police officer.

• How will each character behave?
• What will they say and do?
• Define the difference between active, passive and assertive responses?
  • Which are the most successful strategies?
  • Which are the most realistic outcomes?

Simulations

Ask students to imagine that they are researchers for a new film about gang violence in the UK. They should find out as much as they can about the realities of gang violence and the use of guns in the UK.

• Where is it happening?
• Why is it happening?
• How do the newspapers and television news report any incidents?
• What are the facts behind the headlines.
• Students should then use this research to create a 50-word pitch to a production company executive, outlining the basic plot, target audience and casting suggestions.