Some movies make people laugh, some make people cry, others might be scary, or filled with a lot of action and drama.
For some movies, it gives a reflection of who we are, that self-realisation that yes that person is a stark reminder of one’s attributes.
One such movie is Fences starring Denzel Washington and Viola Davis.
Washington plays the role of Troy Maxson, a 1950s sanitation worker who once dreamed of a baseball career. He could not pursue baseball because by the time the major league started admitting black people, he was too old for the game.
He proudly admits and strives to be a good husband and father, however, is swallowed with pride, racism and guilt.
A racist characteristic that crippled his mind thus disallowing his son Cory (Jovan Adepo) from taking football because he does not believe football is meant for black people, even though his son had been sought by college football scouts. He severs his relationship with his son and sadly they never made amends until his passing.
“Some fences keep people in, others keep people out,” he told his son, Cory. His other son, Lyon, (Russel Hornsby) is an ardent musician trying to make it big in the music industry.
An illiterate Troy unknowingly signs papers resulting in half of Gabriel’s (his brother) pension to a psychiatric hospital, forcing Gabe to be institutionalised. Gabe suffered brain trauma from World War II and his money was used to buy the house that Troy is living in.
Troy is filled with guilt after cheating on his wife of 18 years. His pride gets the best of him as he tries to use baseball to explain and justify his actions.
Throughout the movie Troy is trying to build a fence and requests the assistance of his son Cory.
Metaphorically speaking he is building his own fence to protect him, a personal fence to avoid intruders from invading his privacy and decision-making.
Troy is a stark reminder of many men who try to find excuses and come up with some unnecessary explanations to justify the logic of why they did what they did, knowing it was wrong.
Rose (Viola Davis) puts up a brave performance in the movie, a performance that earned her the Golden Globe best supporting actress award. A domesticated woman, who loves her husband and her marriage so much that she will fight to the end to keep her marriage and family together.
Rose reminds me of most women of who have been hurt, abused and cheated a lot by their husbands, yet they stood by them and continue to fight to protect their marriage, the covenant they made and their family.
The movie ends with Cory (who since the last fight with his father joined the US Marine Corps) coming home to his father’s funeral. He, for the first time, meets his younger sister Raynell (Saniyya Sidney) — Troy’s daughter from his mistress, Alberta. Fences is a very interesting movie, one I would rate a nine out of 10.
Here are some awards and nominations the film picked up at the 89th Academy Awards:
* Best picture, best actor (Washington);
* Best supporting actress (Davis); and
* Best adapted screenplay.
Golden Globe nomination:
* Best actor for Washington; and
* Best supporting actress award win for Davis.
