The Emory Cinematheque Presents: CROOKLYN (1994)

1994 | 115 min. | DCP
Introduced by Dr. Nsenga Burton (Virginia State University) and Professor Dehanza Rogers (Emory University)

“Imagine sitting on the stoop of your Brooklyn brownstone, gossiping with the neighbors while kids play hop-scotch in the street and jump rope on the sidewalk. That’s the urban community Spike Lee recreates in CROOKLYN, a funny, high-energy movie about Carolyn and Woody Carmichael, and their five kids.” (NETWORK)

CROOKLYN is a presumed semi-autobiographical tale of Shelton ‘Spike’ Lee’s family as told through a young girl, presumably his sister Joie Lee who co-wrote it with him along with their brother Cinque Lee. This is the second film in which Lee centers a female protagonist, the first being SHE’S GOTTA HAVE IT. Cinematographer Arthur Jaffa lenses this beautiful film that moves from the idyllic summer days of 1970s Brooklyn to the heat of the Black Virginia south.

Film scholar Mark D. Cunnigham believes the film highlights the beautiful diversity of New York City remarking: “all of these people shape Troy’s understanding of the world and provide her with a catalogue of rich, and often magical, experiences.” While cultural critic bell hooks challenged the gender roles articulated in this film, CROOKLYN forces audiences to really consider the lives of Black girls. The film stars Alfre Woodard, Delroy Lindo, and introduces Zelda Harris as Troy, the central young girl in the film.

Virginia State University professor and mass communication department chair Nsenga Burton will introduce the film and participate in a talk back alongside Emory filmmaker and production head Professor Dehanza Rogers who teaches on Black girlhood.
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The Emory Cinematheque is a theatrical venue offered by Emory University’s Department of Film and Media. Each semester on Wednesday nights at 7:30pm in White Hall 208, the Cinematheque hosts professional screenings introduced by Emory professors and special guests. All Cinematheque events are free and open to the public. The Cinematheque presents this screening event as part of our series, 40 YEARS OF BROTHER SPIKE LEE, a retrospective of the trailblazing director curated by Emory Professor of Film and Media, Beretta E. Smith-Shomade.