Crookyln #makayla

The film Crookyln  written and directed by Spike Lee is a semi-autobiography [autobiography is a noun; autobiographical is an adjective] film.  This movie took place in Brooklyn, NY [New York] in the summer of 1973 which was consider the golden age before crack, gangs, and guns took over the inner cities [good observation].

Crookyln tells the story of the Carmichaels, a family with four boys and one girl. The six children [your math doesn't add up] live at home with their parents Woody (Delroy Lindo) and Caroyln (Alfre Woodard).  They lived in a neighborhood [Fort Greene] where every house [brownstones] looks exactly the same and everyone knows everyone.  The film's main focus is one the youngest [Troy is in fact older than at least one of her brothers but is definitely treated differently due to her gender] and only girl in the family, nine-year old, Tory Carmichael (Zelda Harris).  Due to Caroyln being only a school teacher and and Woody being a struggling jazz musician, the family begins to argue about money [in one scene Con Ed (the UI of NYC) comes and cuts the power off because Woody has 'bounced' a check].

For the summer the parents send Troy to live with their cousin down South [Carolyn is teaching summer school].  At first she is livid and begs her family not to leave her there, but she soon enjoys herself.  Reality hits her when she comes home to find out her mother has been diagnosed with cancer.  This type of news changes the family in a huge way.

I truly loved this film.  I believe Spike Lee creating this based on his life as a kid in Brooklyn made it so relatable.  In my eye it was so real from both parents arguing over money down to the close net [knit] neighborhood that allowed all of the kids to know each other.  Families everywhere, especially in towns such as our own [New Haven], experience the exact same thing.  Even Zelda Harris' character, Troy, was relatable to many kids.  Coming of age and taking over as almost an adult in the house is still happening for many kids even though the circumstances may be different.