Writer/director RaMell Ross and co-writer Joslyn Barnes have adapted Colson Whitehead’s novel, The Nickel Boys, into a remarkable and outstanding film finally opening in theaters. I have never previously read Whitehead’s book. Still, after watching the film adaptation, I would love to immerse myself in this story, as Ross, Barnes, the cast, and the crew have done such an incredible job of telling this tremendous story. The filmmakers have chosen to present this narrative through first-person perspective cinematography and non-linear storytelling. Though this might be initially jarring, the end result is a powerful and emotional piece of cinema.
During the early sixties, Black teenager Elwood Curtis finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Though he is an intelligent student with a promising future, he chooses to hitch a ride with a man currently wanted by law enforcement. Elwood eventually finds himself sent to a reformatory named Nickel Academy. While there, he discovers that the Black inmates are segregated from the white ones, and comes to realize that the Black people there are being used and abused as cheap labor. Anyone who causes trouble gets subjected to violent abuse, some of whom never get to leave. It becomes increasingly evident that the only way out is through death.
I was riveted and left an absolute mess after watching this movie. Though I am aware of the shocking ways racism has manifested in American history, this movie does an excellent job of giving some personal perspectives on this experience. The filmmakers and lead actors superbly immerse their audience within this nightmare of a world, and it is nearly impossible not to be affected.
Ethan Herisse, as Elwood, and Brandon Wilson, as Elwood’s best friend at Nickel, Turner, are both outstanding in their respective roles. They bring much heart and purpose to this powerful story and make for very empathetic characters. I do not wish to reveal more about this story (for those who have not read the novel), because this would lessen the overall impact. Though this is not feel-good cinema, it is essential to acknowledge stories like this one as a reminder of the dark side of humanity and the atrocities the human race is capable of.