Ominously, the film opens with the image of a literal house on fire, the house belonging to Peace’s father, Skeet, played by Ejiofor himself. It doesn’t take a thorough read of Hobbs’ book or previous knowledge of Peace’s life’s story to understand the message that is being relayed to the audience here: this is the story of an entire world on fire — one that is so omnipresent and pervasive that the flames licking at your ankles don’t just threaten to merely burn you, but rather engulf you, subsuming you and everything you love into them. From there, we’re guided through 1980s East Orange, New Jersey from the vantage point of a young, seven-year-old DeShaun (played by Jelani Dacres) tagging along with his father. Immediately, we can see that DeShaun is caught between his parents, Skeet and Jackie (a poignant and uncharacteristically stoic Mary J. Blige), as she looks on skeptically as Skeet arrives to pick up DeShaun. Immediately, it’s clear that there are divides here. There is pain here. There is history here. As we ride along with father and son, DeShaun’s intellect — surpassing far beyond his seven years — shines. His father quizzes him with math questions that would dizzy the average adult, let alone child, and DeShaun answers with ease as he beams up at his father. There is adoration here. Upon arrival at their destination, Skeet jokingly accuses DeShaun of farting in the car, making him exit the car and walk up the street; once the child is far enough away, we watch as Skeet extracts a gun from the glove compartment and pockets it. There is danger here. read more
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Anvita Reddy