Response
Daaaaaaanng. That’s all I gotta say.
No seriously, Set It Off is a highly significant film. It portrays the struggle against “The Man� in a clear way. After the opening bank robbery I instantly knew what the film was going to be about and completely sided with the black woman (Ms. Fox). I understood the unfair treatment and total injustice dished out to her by the white male cop and the white male bank manager (owner?).
I actually cried several times during the film. I felt how terrible all of the black women had been treated by white men. And, when three of them were killed, I cried even harder. Me, crying over the deaths of bank robbers!? I understood their desperation and determination to fight. I understood that they tried their best to fight in a legal moral way. I understood that it didn’t work. Instead of staying broken and left hopeless, these women stuck together to fight men the only way they could think of.
The black women were also abused by black men. Their black boss for the janitorial service disrespected them with in the way he spoke to them. The black guy who only agreed to give Ms. Pinkett an advance if she had sex with him obviously mistreated her. As the movie progressed, their cause expanded to fighting against all men, not just white men.
My favorite line, which triggered the first set of tears (that I remember), was after the first bank robbery. The women were splitting up the take when a disagreement broke out about if the women who didn’t participate should get a cut. She was crying and said that she needed the money. She needed to get her son back. Vivica recoiled her position of not giving her a cut with something like…I’m sorry; you’re not the one I’m mad at. Then, she gave her her share. I doubt that would ever happen with a pack of male robbers. The way they stayed together, kept their battle against “The Man� and friendship in front of anything else, was a deeply emotional side to the story which led to my tears when they were murdered.
Another thing, I appreciated the style in which the love making was captured. When Ms. Pinkett and the bank guy had sex, I thought the moment must have been directed by a female. It was sensual, slow, and there was a connection between the two characters. It didn’t seem like a typical movie f@$# scene, but a break through love making scene.
I thought this movie was a strong example of feminist film. I loved it and will recommend it to all of my friends and family.