Set It Off - response
"Luther's murder is the point of no return for the women in Set It Off."
Kimberly Springer
Waiting to Set It Off
page 191
As Springer states in this quotation, it is after Luther's murder that the women have sealed the deal of their fate. Prior to that event, I believe it would have been possible for the women to survive this ordeal, even if they were not able to avoid criminal charges; they may have even been able to resume their original lives. After Tisean kills Luther, however, everything changes. The film displays these changes in a few subtle ways, including the new angle of the camera as well as the costumes the women choose to wear in their final robbery. This last robbery is also different than the previous ones, this one is committed out of true desperation. The women realize they have no other choice but to steal as much money as possible, and leave the country; it is no longer a robbery to lead a more comfortable life, it is a robbery to have a life, any life.
I especially appreciated Springer's inclusion of this quotation while reading the article because it gave me a hint as to what to watch for in the film. Because I had no yet seen the film when I was reading this article, I didn't really know what the film was about, but this quotation definately helped me to take note of the many changes that followed the death of Luther.