Do The Right Thing (1989)

The first thing to tell you is that the right thing to do in this case is go and see this film.

The young, cutting-edge writer and director Spike Lee creates a work so witty and audacious, it's remarkable. His exceptional movie right from New York's melting pot combines the authentic feel of a documentary-like drama with brillant artistry and comedy.

In an episodic structure the film shows a wide range of different people living one day of their lives in a black neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York.

The main characters are young Mookie (played by Lee himself) and Sal. Mookie already has a child with his girlfriend but can hardly care for them with the bad job he has and the little time he has for them. Sal (Danny Aiello) is an italian-american pizzeria owner Mookie works for. His store is extremely popular in the district and Sal is proud of being one of the few white people having established themselves and getting along fairly well in this mostly black neighborhood.
One of his two sons Pino (John Turturro) is not happy to have to live here and he shows hints for his anger and racist feelings. His brother Vito on the other hand is a good friend of Mookie and does not complain. He is confused by his brother's behaviour.

Then there are dozens of side characters who repeatedly appear on screen. There are the three old, unemployed black men always sitting in their chairs on the street thinking about the past, talking about the present and how things changed and what they are gonna do about it. But eventually they don't do anything. There is the old drunkard who is actually very smart and always polite. There is Radio Raheem, a tall, big black guy always carrying around his boom box (sporadically) listening to songs about black empowerment. Samuel L. Jackson is in this film as the local radio host connecting the listening city. There is a disabled guy always walking around distributing pictures of Martin Luther King or Malcolm X. And - among others - finally there is Bugging Out.

On this incredibly hot day when everyone is stressed out anyway he starts off a conflict with Sal that soon infects other people in the community. For a long time life in the district seem to be peaceful and somehow harmonic. Hate arises from under the surface. And as the day moves along the tension and dissatisfaction eventually leads to escalation.

Racial differences or racist motives are not directly causing the violence here. It's the social grievance that is responsible. Deficits that got and get worse and worse. And what the film is maybe trying to say is that if you lean back and let it happen if the people won't sit down together and discuss and agree on the problems of the system it will end up in chaos as the rage of the people will inevitably break loose. Communication fails.

The film is a warning. It does not point the finger on a certain group of people. It does not tell us who is doing the right thing and who doesn't ... if there is anyone at all. We have to decide ourselves what the exact message and the right thing to do is.

The picture was a controversial hit at Cannes back in the late 80s and it has not lost any of its power to date. I was surprised by the energy of the presentation. From the strong writing that is both lyrical and expressive and still smart and authentic to the exciting, fresh look and the lively camera work and the fantastic portrait of the city Lee knows so well (as he will also show later in the great "25th hour" again) everything is pitch perfect. It plays like a documentary at times and then other times it plays like a comedy or a satire. It is artsy and peotic but also full of truth and honesty.

Rarely you see something that original. It's funny, moving, and ultimately absorbing like a great song once you get the vibe. Watch it, think about it and then do the right thing.