In death everyone is equal. In life culture is currency and you are fuller than I, and I am hungry. That is what this film offered me and I unironically ate it up. Let me start by saying I am acting as a guest in this media. I will speak as the title befits me.
Synopsis
Directed, co-produced, and written by Ryan Coogler, Sinners stars Micheal B Jordan in dual roles, Hailee Steinfeld, Omar Benson Miller, and Jack O’Connell. This period horror set in Delta, Mississippi, is about the power of music and the resilience of a soul when faced with supernatural evil.
Initial thoughts
So many of the creative choices made in this movie were nods, odes and outright jabs at history and if you’ve read any of my other reviews, you know that is my absolute favorite. I must be honest it was hard for me not to ramble about every thought I had while writing this review. There are so many things I didn’t touch on that other wonderful creators have. I would definitely recommend getting involved in the conversation.
This movie has broken glass ceilings that before were virtually untouchable. For good reason. The level of care put into every aspect of this film from the costumes, the imagery, the intentional cinematic focus on communal connection over individuality while not sacrificing the individual stories. It was phenomenal.
History and socioeconomic standing
The Irish have a very complicated relationship with marginalized identity because it is true that Irish people in their home country and abroad have had a fitful time with the occupational forces. That is to say, they stood within and beside marginalized communities for many years in the fresh decades of the American dynasty. Irish people were marginalized and they faced religious, ethnic, and xenophobic discrimination. God knows that other groups suffered worse oppression.
Rich white men saw the growing power oppressed groups could wield when they created community amongst themselves. So they offered Irish people a deal. Forsake your ties with the communities that harbor you and the roots of your people and you can have a taste of this power we’ve brought against the others. Essentially stop being Irish and turn against your friends and we’ll stop targeting you. Assimilate.
I will not say that all Irish people did this. I will say enough did that the phenomenon is known about today.
Why the historical context matters to this movie review
Because that is literally what motivates the antagonist, Remmick.
He’s asking them to forsake their roots, their heritage, their music, and their language in order to become one within his monolithic community that consumes without prejudice and leaves only a washed echo of its image behind.
He even states that he has a history with a similar colonizing power, (Him being Irishmen in the fifth or so century when Christians began forcibly converting the population away from their pagan roots and rituals.) He’s appealing to this community with a like-minded, if not completely comparable experience and tells them, “This does not get better without your sacrifice.” This is further highlighted by his talking about the KKK member salesman who sold characters Smoke and Stack the building.
He isn’t lying per se, but he is forsaking himself all over again by upholding the standard. He has become the consumer he hated.
Vampires love music
I would be remiss to not speak on the on the music.
It was the literal plot of the movie, my Gods. A little context, I grew up surrounded by the sounds of black church music coming from the mouths of people who excluded the creators.
That is to say, I have a personal history with this vampire’s appetite.
To me, it felt like the music was the thread that adjoined the subtext to the narrative.
What I mean to say is that music is the fruit of existence. Music is the best way humans have found to bare their souls and speak through the threads of existence. It is the most effective method of preserving oral history and it is the one thing all of us have in common.
However.
Black music is one of the single most appropriated joys stolen from that community. Remmick was literally stealing their joy. Their soul.
He wanted Sammy’s voice because he thought it would bring a soul to this culture of oneness he was creating. He hoped that by stealing one last thing it would be what he needed to be whole again. We know as the audience that that wasn’t true. Because that isn’t how hunger works.
However, Remmick killed off the parts of himself that made him, him he was left looking for himself in others and trying to reconnect to those he’d lost along the way.
Personal anecdote
My partner asked me if I would have become a vampire. As white people, this is an introspective question not only a fun one. I would like to say no. I would love to say I would be strong enough to see the harm that was actually occurring and decline, but here is the thing about intersectionality. It’s predicated on your experiences. If someone had come to me and said there was a way that I could exist in a world without prejudice, sexism, and racism I would find myself just as tempted as the main character.
That is the folly of circumstantial proximity to witness. I would have said yes and would have been handed a hollowness that was previously filled with music and deep roots. That’s exactly what happened to my ancestors. Now I am without culture and community and a lifetime of unlearning biases I was handed to keep my social standing safe.
That it why this review might feel skin deep to some audiences. That’s what made it such an amazing film. I was validated, uncomfortable and in awe all at the same time.
Closing remarks
There are talks of there potentially being a continuation of this story from the Indigenous group featured in pursuit of Remmick and I don’t know who I have to beg to get that but PLEASE.
Sources
If you’d like more historical context to the movies themes
- The Untold Story of the American Southern Chinese by: Aj+ on Youtube
- Say No To The Devil: The Life and musical genius of rev. Gary Davis – Ian Zack
- How the Irish Became White- Noel Ignatiev
- Vampires and Vampirism- Dudley Wright
- My Black Country- Alice Randall