Crooklyn

Crooklyn by Spike Lee xX

The 1994 semi-autobiographical film crooklyn is a coming of age story for one little girl in a large family. The story starts off in a lively neighborhood in Brooklyn, New york, where we meet the family of the main character, Troy (played by Zelda Harris). Through-out the beginning, we see troy getting into multiple disputes with her older brother, start to become aware of her underdeveloped body, and following behind her mother. Troy gets an invitation from her relatives down south, and is very apprehensive. During her time down in the south with her adopted cousin, Viola (played by Patriece Nelson), Troy begins to do things in a routine that she was not used to, being the only girl amongst her siblings. when she returns home, we see just how much she has matured over the summer when she feels the need to step up and help her mother (played by Alfre Woodward), who has fallen ill with cancer. she helps with the cleaning, cooking, and with her brothers before, and long after her mothers passing. 

I found this movie to be very enjoyable in most aspects, but few I did not care for too much. The entire plot overall stirred up mixed feelings, and the end was very touching. My favorite scene was the summer troy spent with Viola. I can relate to not being able to do many things growing up with a brother 5 years my senior, and was glad that she was finally able to form a close bond with another girl. I did not like, however, the scenes whee she was seen in the bathroom examining her body and feeling bad about it. Being that she was only 9, turning 10 in the film, she probably had not reached puberty, and was far too young to be worrying about that sort of thing. All flaws aside, I thought that Crooklyn was a great film.