THE HATE U GIVE: An Honest Portrait Of How Anger Begets More Anger

I’m not going to lie. I thought The Hate U Give was going to be an incredibly one-sided film. I was skeptical of having such a complicated political topic be formatted as a young adult (YA) film. While films like Blindspotting and even Monsters and Men were more subtle on how race affects other aspects of society, like gentrification or role in the community, The Hate U Give seemed to careen forward with a blunt, liberal agenda. It all comes down to execution of the story.

I am here to report that The Hate U Give offers a whole lot more beneath the surface. It is a morality tale of how anger begets more anger, disguised as a coming-of-age tale, which in turn is disguised as an angry case of injustice. The fact that it nails all three narratives is an overwhelming compliment to the director George Tillman Jr., the late screenwriter Audrey Wells, as well as author Angie Thomas, who wrote the novel the film is based on.

The injustice here is one too familiar in the real world. An unarmed black teenager has been shot by a white police officer. Starr Carter (Amandla Stenberg) is the only witness to this shooting, and as citizens of her all-black district demand justice, she finds her voice as well as her identity.

Patience in Characters Results in Earned Emotions and Incredible Performances

Before the shooting even occurs, the film sets itself up as a coming-of-age story. We are first given an opportunity to meet and learn about Starr and her family, consisting of her mother Lisa (Regina Hall), her father Maverick (Russell Hornsby), her half-brother Seven (Lamar Johnson), and younger brother Sekani (TJ Wright). We learn about Garden Heights, the all-black suburb the family lives at. We learn about how Starr and Seven attend Williamson, an all-white school – a move done by their parents to keep them safe.

Tillman Jr. and Wells give us the opportunity to live among the characters and understand their circumstances. As a result, when later scenes occur, we can sympathize with their decisions. Painful and angry moments of confrontation in the climax feel earned and honest because the first and second acts gave us a chance to learn about the characters, their pasts, and where they stand in their morals and priorities.

But The Hate U Give takes one step further. It doesn’t shy away from showing flaws in people. We get to see almost every character at their most vulnerable state. They have made mistakes in the past, and paid for their mistakes using years of their lives. The script’s patience in expanding characterization makes for a far more riveting experience for the audience, elevating the stakes and even the performances.

I can write an entire piece on Stenberg. She captures Starr’s fear, confusion, uncertainty, anger, and regret – all emotions that can be devastating for someone at Starr’s age. But Stenberg is not alone. She is accompanied by Hornsby, who turns in an Oscar-worthy performance, and Johnson, who acts as the comic relief of the film, yet still holds enough backstory and depth to feel like a real human.

Real Stakes and Complicated Messages

In today’s political climate, police shootings and protests occur almost every week. It’s no surprise that The Hate U Give would use a protest as a major set piece and climactic plot point. However, it is the way the script gets to those defining moments that sets it apart from other political films.

The film could’ve taken the “easy route” and automatically demonize all police officers. And yet, The Hate U Give has the courage to offer some insight from the other side. Look out for a scene that involves a black police officer played by Common – it’s one of the best scenes in the film. Political movies can easily fall into the trappings of liberal or conservative propaganda, designed only for the specific demographic to have their beliefs reaffirmed to them.

Here, the script takes chances. It doesn’t tackle racial tensions as a one-sided issue where it’s only the white people’s fault and no one else’s. Rather, it has the sensibility to explore the economic consequences of racial tensions and how people can easily become a product of their environment. Furthermore, the film nails how economic struggles lead to desperate methods to survive, which leads to more oppression and racial tensions. And in the core of all this, it is one side’s hate that fuels the other side’s hate, thus forming a never-ending cycle that will eventually taint the younger generation. Just like Tupac Shakur’s line that inspired the film’s title, “The Hate U Give Little Infants F***s Everybody. T.H.U.G.L.I.F.E.”

A Powerful Film with a Couple Minor Setbacks

That is not to say The Hate U Give is a perfect film. Tillman Jr. every once in a while would make an artistic decision that feels a bit too on-the-nose. It’s easy to detect that Garden Heights is always shown in a yellow, warm hue, while Williamson is consistently blue and cold – clearly a visual choice to emphasize how Starr is living in two different worlds, under two different identities. But Tillman Jr. and Wells go one step further and add Starr’s voice into the film as the narrator, and more often than not, the film trips on the “show, don’t tell” issue.

I forgot to mention that Stenberg shares an admirable chemistry with KJ Apa, who plays Starr’s white boyfriend Chris. They have a scene together where Starr finally opens up to Chris about her struggles of identity and voice. It would’ve been a powerful moment, if we didn’t already hear Starr narrate that struggle to us in the beginning of the film. Always trust your audience. Many moving pieces within a film can take care of themselves if you trust the audience is watching and listening.

These are just minor issues I had with a film that is politically relevant, emotionally honest, and overwhelmingly powerful. Featuring lovable characters, a patient script, and excellent performances across the board, The Hate U Give may just be a dark horse come Oscar season. It’s not a crazy idea to suggest a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) nomination for the entire cast or even the Oscar for Best Picture. But look out for Stenberg, Hornsby, and Wells’ names. They are very likely going to snatch nominations (deservedly, too).

The Hate U Give: Conclusion

But outside of the award season, this is an important film to watch. It understands the suffering poor communities go through, and the racial tensions that exist. It understands that this cycle of hatred for one another would never stop unless someone steps up and make an effort to break it. It’s a film that makes an enormous effort to bridge and find common ground. I want everyone out there to take their friends, family, and colleagues out to watch this film.

Liberals, bring your conservative friends, and vice versa. Talk about these issues. Listen to each other, work together, and rebuild. Most of all, be patient. Only then can we heal as one people and move forward.

Did you see The Hate U Give? What did you think of it? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

The Hate U Give was released in the US on October 19, 2018. For all international release dates, see here.