So, in class a few days ago, Dayna
referred us to a movie called “Snow on the Bluff”, and I had some
time on my hands so I thought I'd watch it on Netflix. For those of
you who might be unfamiliar with the movie, it follows the life of
Curtis Snow, an Atlanta gangster who lives in one of the roughest
neighborhoods in Atlanta, the Bluff, after he steals a camera from a
few college kids looking to buy drugs off of him. From there we
become privy to “everyday” life on the bluff. We see Curtis's
drug raids, his drive-bys, and his angry moments but we also see the
care he has for his community and his family.
The opening scene of the movie is
brilliant. It starts from the point of view of the college kids that
originally bought the video camera. The first line is, “No, I
wouldn't want to raise my kids in Georgia” and sets up the movie as
directly against this entitled, college-kid culture. The insertion of
these college kids does not take up a lot of time, but it
contextualizes the movie. By showing these other college kids, the
movie makes it harder for viewers to trivialize the events of the
movie by thinking, “well, that's just how life is in this world”
because there are people who don't live like that.
I also think it is important that it
originally sets up Curtis as “the bad guy”. In the first scene he
robs these kids, and the emotional impact of that scene is
multifaceted. On the one hand, I think it is natural to feel bad for
the kids, and that emotional reaction is later brought into question.
The viewer must ask if there is a difference in emotional response
between watching the kids get robbed and watching Curtis and his
family suffer, and if there is a difference, then why? On the other
hand, it identifies Curtis as he would be seen by society, as some
nameless bad guy. The movie brings him a humanity that is
marginalized by the mainstream parts of society and specifically
white society.
What makes this movie so affecting is
how real and surreal it feels simultaneously. While watching, I was
constantly questioning the veracity of the film; was Curtis Snow a
real guy, or an actor? Were those real guns and deaths, or were they
dramatized? These, I think, are not the right questions, but they are
the questions that an audience who has never experienced gang life
will ask. What I personally need to recognize is that “Snow on Tha
Bluff” seems surreal to me because it is very far removed from the
things I experience on a day to day basis. I am luck to not have to
experience the level of violence that is so common place in “Snow
on The Bluff”.
I would highly recommend this movie,
and I thank Dayna for pointing me towards it. Watching it was a crazy
experience. A few questions I would like to ask the class: Do you
think movies like “Snow on Tha Bluff” should have a social
justice imperative? What role do you think the question of reality
and our understanding of reality plays in interpreting the film? And,
if you've watched it, how do you feel about the film's portrayal of
violence?
Becca,
ReplyDeleteWhile watching this film I had similar questions however, I watched it from a different view point. I don't feel bad or sympathetic for the college kids who were robbed. If your are going to buy drugs in a neighborhood that is unfamiliar, it is in your best interest to use better judgement and commonsense. This is not at all a justification for the action.
The main themes that stood out to me were history repeating itself and making survival choices. It was apparent that Curtis cared for his son although he wasn't physically involved everyday with the child. While watching his son Curtis explained that when he was younger his uncle would be packing the drugs in the same scenario with his son. Curtis grew up with an understanding of what's normal. He may have also internalized the idea that being a drug lord was a successful way to support his family.
The Bluff neighborhood has clear signs of poverty and limited job opportunities. Therefor selling drugs was a popular way to provide and protect his family with the little resources that were available to him. The film alludes to the idea that individuals are very much a product of their environment.
Comment by Matthew:
ReplyDeleteI recently watched Snow on tha Bluff on Dayna’s recommendation as well. I thought the movie was awesome, but that being said it obviously is very problematic as well, and raises a lot of issues surrounding race, poverty and crime. The Bluff stands for “Better Leave You Fucking Fool” and is recognized as one of the 5 most dangerous neighborhoods in the United States. The fact that Curtis is a real stick-up boy/drug dealer that wanted the director to make a movie about his life is wild.
The viewer feels like they are watching a documentary, reminding them that although this does not document historic events it is not a Hollywood tale, and rather deals with reality. It is also important that Curtis and his crew are the ones filming. A) they are not on camera surveillance by police, b) they are choosing what they want to show, and C) they are more than willing to show the life they are living
Becca, you said you were lucky to not have to experience this type of violence, and I completely agree with you. I’m also thinking back to a conversation we had about the marathon bombers, when someone mentioned that much worse acts of violence were taking place in Syria at the time, and I said something along the lines of ‘well, that’s what expected in Syria, that’s what happens on a daily basis. Some might hear about the tales of Snow on tha Bluff and other similar hood tales and say “oh that’s what happens in the ghetto”. While the film is not a documentary and is dramatized, it certainly reflects a reality in which many have to live.
I agree with Denise though that I never really saw Curtis as the bad guy, I think he is very much the protagonist even when he takes the camera. For those familiar with The Wire Curtis’ character demands the same respect as Omar Little.
I would certainly say the film has a social justice imperative, and is not glorifying dealing drugs, but is rather demonstrating that
Curtis is smart, and not really a bad person. If the acts he commits in the movie seem horrific, they also remind the viewer that he is a human, and that based on the situation that humans are born into they will do certain things…