Something New (2006)

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Something New Cover

Something New released on January 29, 2006 focuses on interracial relationship and African-American family values and social customs. The American romantic comedy drama film was directed by Sanaa Hamri and screenplay by Kriss Turner, starring Kenya McQueen (Sanaa Lathan) and Brian Kelly (Simon Baker). [1] Based on Rotten Tomatoes, the film received a quite positive response of ratings 61% from 109 reviews. [2]

Plot

A single successful African-American career woman, Kenya McQueen has to put aside her love life to pursue her career as a certified public accountant. One day Kenya agrees to go on a blind date set up by her co-worker with landscape architect, Brian Kelly. Kenya, who always dreamed of an ideal black man, feels surprised as she finds out that Brian is white. Then, she excuses herself and leaves.

They unexpectedly meet again at the party Leah’s held. Impressed by seeing his work over landscaping the ground, Kenya hired Brian to renovate her backyard garden. Spending their time together as employer-employee gradually develop from friendship into love.


Something New, Sanaa Lathan and Simon Baker

Controversy

As the female lead character dreamed of the ideal “man” referred to someone who comes from the same race and skin color, an ideal black man. This also proves when Kenya meets her blind-date-partner, who is white, Brian, she right away excuses herself and leaves. As the two get closer, the male lead character, Brian, also feels uneasy whenever they discuss color differences between them that probably can drive them apart.

Surprisingly, the movie told how hard it was having romance outside their race. As Kenya was raised from a respected family in black community, speculated that her family and friends are unhappy with the notion that Kenya might date a white man.

Also, the realistic scene about race in modern America, when the term “Black Tax” appears on the talk, which means black people, like Kenya, needs to work harder than her white colleagues in order to prove that she is as competent as others, especially white people.

Though they love each other, Kenya and Brian ever had a fight in the grocery store over their relationships that are rarely permitted to be. [3]

References