Dyer reviews new movie “The Hate U Give”

The Hate U Give, a movie adapted from a book of the same name by Angie Thomas, was released Oct 5. It is directed by George Tillman Jr. The movie stars Amandla Stenberg as Starr Carter, who plays a young African American girl coming into her own among a time of racial tension.

The plots of both the novel and the movie are gripping, containing a blend of comedy, romance, and tragedy. There are various instances throughout the film where the character shares a touching moment with her friends and family despite all the tragedy that has occurred.

Starr is torn between two worlds: the crime riddled neighborhood she grew up in and the rich private school she attends, Williamson. She is constantly forcing herself to play a role, which she dubs Williamson Starr, so she is able to fit in among the rich, white students that attend the school. Her friends and her boyfriend (played by K.J. Apa) are all wealthy, and she feels like she needs to pretend in order to fit in.She continues to play that role until one event changes everything. Her childhood best friend, Khalil, is shot and killed by a white police officer, and Starr is the only witness. She has to decide whether to speak out and potentially ruin her school life or say nothing and keep quiet, knowing Khalil will never get justice.

Stenberg performed exceptionally well, leaving audiences starstruck by the amount of emotion and raw feeling that she poured into the role. She brought the character to life, causing many to empathize with her character and what she goes through during the film.

Although The Hate U Give is a fictional film, it covers issues that are very relevant in today’s society. The movie tackles issues of racism, police brutality, and many others. With the recent Black Lives Matter movement, this movie is more pertinent than ever. Even though Khalil, Starr, and all of the characters in the movie are all fictional, they represent people that are very real. The struggles that Starr and her community go through are also the struggles of many in the real world.

The Hate U Give, in addition to its real world message, is also an enjoyable film.