One of the most compelling, thought-provoking and touching films in the history of filmdom. American History X brings about a point of view that is still relevant today and will forever be ingrained in this country's history no matter what happens. It's definitely an innovative perspective of race seen through the eyes of a gang of skinheads, which is also ironically set in the culturally diverse city of Los Angeles.
Derek Vinyard (Edward Norton) has been released from prison after he committed a brutal crime three years ago. Derek was once a part of a neo-nazi gang who sought to perish the existence of blacks and minorities by committing heinous crimes towards them, but none went so far as what he did that fateful night. He not only destroyed his own life but left his younger brother Danny (Edward Furlong) scarred with the gruesome image of his crimes. We learn that Danny has also taken the path that his brother took, and is now also indoctrinated by the same group of skinheads which his brother was once a part of. He does not seem to fully believe the rants that the other members express so freely, but his English teacher is worried that his current situation could escalate to a much more serious state and could possibly lead to the same tragic point as his brother's. As a result of Danny's recent action of turning in a paper about Mein Kampf, his English teacher asks him to write another paper about the experiences of his brother leading to the night of his arrest and what he has learned as a result of everything that happened. They decide to call the project "American History X". Meanwhile, Derek has decided to start on a clean slate and sever all ties with the neo-nazi group including trying to prohibit Danny from going to any of their meetings ever again. In the course of the movie, we learn what brought about the hatred that consumed Derek and the changes he experienced during his time in prison, which ultimately changed his outlook of the world and the many races that inhabit it. But will he be able to convince Danny to live his life for a better cause despite his current association with the gang, and will their family experience yet another fatal blow as a result of their spiralling past?
The film is shot in flashbacks, with the present being shot in color and the past in black-and-white. It utilizes a reverse chronology plotline which exhibits the events leading up to the climactic murder that changed the characters' lives forever. This kind of method is very creative when it comes to film making and is entirely effective in the context of this particular story because the catalyst of it all was the grisly murder committed by Norton's character, Derek. The movie doesn't express this truth until the end of the film, which brings that much more shock value to the experience as a whole and how awry the power of hate can become when you exercise it everyday. The infamous scene which will be carved into your memory for a while after viewing this film, would have to be the most powerful one in the film because of the superb acting displayed by Edward Norton and the diabolical glint that his eyes gave off when his character was about to get arrested for this heinous crime. It showed no remorse and an almost blissful quality despite being the most intense and moral-breaking scenes in the film. It definitely made my heart fall with despair for the human race and humanity as a whole. How dimwitted and repugnant a human being can get as a result of their rage and inability to let go of the past is beyond me and I take off my hat to Edward Norton for communicating to the audience the collapse and decline a human conscience can forgo as a result of such personal torment and despair. Despite such a vehement subject matter, the film loses a bit of its momentum towards the ending and that could be seen as a bit of a let down because the beginning and course of events seemed so promising and eventful during the first half of the film. Otherwise the film could be viewed as a cultural phenomenon as well a prominent part of film history.
The film's main theme would have to be racism and the cold-hearted, obstinate ideals some people have towards cultural diversity and minorities in their respective countries. It brings up the notion that most people aren't born racist but are in fact mindful of their peers whether they are black, white, asian, etc. For example, when children are young, they judge their peers by their character, personality and actions as opposed to what color skin they have, and it is ultimately their parents who indoctrinate them to believe that people who don't resemble themselves are eternal enemies in life. It is a recurring problem and it is a worrisome issue in this country when it comes to how black people and other minorities get treated on the basis of their race in this country, even with the kind of rights and liberties that are held sacred by the constitution.
In this particular story, Derek's father did express his disdain towards blacks because of their being hired at the fire station instead of whites who were much more qualified when it came to their training. The match was struck, but the fire was only fueled when a black man shot and killed his father while he was putting out a fire in a black neighborhood, leading Derek to believe that all blacks are worthless scum who don't do nothing but murder innocent, hard-working "white" Americans who actually protect their race in some instances too. Biased and relentless in his quest to bring justice to the white population of his neighborhood, Derek ravenously commits many deeds and hate crimes in the name of his white supremacist ideology, but do his actions and speeches for the purpose of scorning and intimidating his so-called enemies, at the core of it all, make his life and the lives of his family members any better? You have to ask yourself, is it worth it to commit to such grotesque and detestable behaviors in the name of your beliefs just to bully others into thinking that you're right and they're wrong? What good does it bring to each party when all it does is bring about hostility and belligerence, that if could be carried out legally, would wipe out a significant portion of each race and cause us to lose our humanity and relapse into the barbaric mindset that was considered long gone in our society.
The real pivotal moment in the film however is actually the foreshadowing murder of one of the main characters in the story. It marks the ambiguous continuation of the Vinyard family's journey and how they will move on from their perpetual cycle of mishaps and tragedies that left a considerable amount of cracks along the way. It begs the question, if Derek will be once again confident in his previous assumptions of the black race or will he employ sound judgment in the aftermath of yet another tragedy that seems to involve the aspect of race and their vague motivations when it comes to murder.
With tears in my eyes at the conclusion of the plot, it makes me really dejected to think about such a young soul being sent into oblivion when he had so much potential to become something great in this world as opposed to what he chose to be associated with during his youth. His brother set the example for him and then admitted his guilt towards his past actions, prompting Danny to rethink his future and his role in the world as well as his family. With such a devastating blow, the only legacy Danny would've left behind was his essay. That is the beacon of hope that would bring a family together and inspire tolerance and respect towards people of all races and ethnicities.
With that being said, this film is one of the most powerful pieces of cinema ever made and could be considered a masterpiece by many who enjoy such enlightening and progressive pictures about minority cultures and their pervasive influence on vulnerable youth in this country. It is at certain moments hard to watch, evoking an immense amount of tension, but the purpose it serves is clear and the consequences of such ties to a violent and subversive cause are imminent.
No comments:
Post a Comment