She’s Gotta Have It
★★★★
As soon as She's Gotta Have It was over, I was completely ashamed as a movie fan that I had never seen this brilliant feature film debut from Spike Lee. Especially as someone who has always appreciated his work. I was struck by how progressive and forward thinking this '80s film is. If I had gone into this movie completely fresh, not knowing anything about Lee, I would have almost ventured to guess that it was made today. Nola Darling’s (Tracy Camilla Johns) perspective on love and relationships is powerful and thought-provoking by today's standards, so I would have loved to be part of the conversation when it originally came out.
The black-and-white cinematography is beautiful and I love how Lee has always expressed his admiration for his city (and basketball) through his angles and unorthodox use of editing techniques, such as still photography. You can't help but think that he uses black and white to make the film feel bigger and more important, especially since it was shot on a independent filmmaker's budget. But it takes the starkness of the costumes and styles of the characters and makes you focus on the humans themselves and their motives.
It's comical how the three male characters, the poet (Tommy Redmond Hicks), the goof (Lee) and the stud (John Canada Terrell), all pine after a women who is upfront and clear about her expectations. They all chide her for her beliefs, but when they are questioned about their lifestyle choices, Nola is made out to the be the villain. I love how Lee plays with our expectations of modern romance because we inherently want one of the relationships to work out. Even though, like the characters, we shouldn't be shocked by the outcome.
CONTENT WARNING: Mentions of Rape + Sexual Assault
I was completely appalled and shocked by Nola Darling’s rape by Jamie. Since I'm new to this film, I'm sure there have been multiple essays and debates given about this controversial scene. Even more so, by her initial reaction to rekindle her romance with Jamie the next day. I was relieved that by the end, Nola stays true to herself and picks self-love. It was good to read that Lee admits that the scene was immature and regrettable.
Even without the questionable scene, She's Gotta Have It is a rare feat in the romantic comedy genre that really challenges your outlook about relationships and especially how black women are treated and viewed in this society. They say that before you can love someone, you need to love yourself first, and this movie is a shining example of that sentiment.
