Fences (2016)

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Fences was released on December 25, 2016, in the USA. The American Drama film was produced by BRON Studios. The movie storyline was written by August Wilson, and directed by Denzel Washington. The movie was based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning play named "Fences" that was written by August Wilson in the early 1980s. [1].

Fences Movie Poster [2]

Plot

Troy Maxson (Denzel Washington) and Jim Bono (Stephen Henderson) have a conversation in the yard after finishing their job as garbage men in 1957. Troy tells him that his boss has prohibited African Americans driving garbage trucks in the company. At the same time, Rose Maxson (Viola Davis) joins them and tells Troy that Cory (Jovan Adepo), their son, has just been drafted for the football team in his college. Reminiscing back to his old prime time, he believes that Cory would not get the same opportunity as the white men get in the football team. Troy lives with his wife, brother, and sons. Troy's brother does not work as he got a brain injury during World War II. As the family turns out to rely on Troy, he feels emotionally suppressed. He even forbids Cory to be on the football team. However, Cory still insists to be a part of the football team, as he believes football can change their life as a way out of poverty. Troy decides to expel Cory from the house. In the end, seven years later after the fight, Troy passed away and all of his family came to the funeral including Cory, who has joined the Marines, despite the conflict that occurred before[3].

Controversy

The film portrays how limited the opportunity for African American people. One of the scenes shows that Troy's boss creating a policy where African American men are prohibited from driving garbage trucks. Troy also mentions that when he was young, he is never given a chance to seize the opportunity in a baseball professional league. Moreover, racism not only suppresses the opportunity but can create a change of mindset in African American people as shown by Troy. Troy is an example of how the bitter past due to racism can change the whole picture: family dynamics, personal emotions, and belittling what people capable of [4].

References