Cheering for Green Book

I let out a shriek of joy last night when Green Book was announced as the winner of Best Picture at last night’s Oscars.  My daughter, Hannah, and I saw the movie a few weeks ago.  Immediately after seeing it I posted on Facebook that it was a movie for the ages that everyone needs to see.  

Only recently have I read about the criticism and controversy surrounding the film. A summary of both is offered by Time magazine at this link:

http://time.com/5527806/green-book-movie-controversy/

The story of the film is about a friendship between an African-American pianist, Donald Shirley played by Mahershala Ali and Tony “Lip” played by Viggo Mortensen, an Italian-American driver.  The two traveled the segregated South on a concert tour for Shirley in the 1960s.  How accurately the movie depicted the friendship is not for me to know.  The story the movie depicted of the relationship is what touched me.

The title of the movie was based on a green book that African Americans kept in the 1960s. The book shared hotels, restaurants, and other accommodations where African Americans could safely stay.

The ugliness of the time was revealed.  Shirley was close to being seriously injured by a white gang in a bar; he was thrown in jail for a consensual, sexual encounter with another man. The encounters with police shared what happened then and still on occasion happens today. 

Ultimately what touched me was the slow mutuality in the relationship that developed.

Shirley was in charge. He hired Tony, paid for the trip, and performed for adoring audiences. He instructed Tony on writing letters to his wife.  He was an erudite, dignified African-American man.  In one scene he poignantly shared, “You only win when you maintain your dignity.”

Tony was also in charge. He helped Shirley out of a number of dangerous situations. To call him a “white savior” as some have is unfair. Shirley saved Tony and got the two out of jail when he called the Attorney General for help.  Tony grew to see that one of his tasks was not to let his boss get hurt.  He was going to resist the horrible mistreatment that was inevitable in the South towards an African-American in the 1960’s.

One of the best scenes was at a final performance on tour in Birmingham, Alabama. Shirley was refused entry into the whites-only dining room of the venue where he had been hired to perform. Ultimately Don refused to play. The two ended up at an African-American blues club where Shirley wowed those present with his music. The pairing of the settings and the lack of acceptance and then moving performance by Shirley left the viewer with plenty to ponder.

Green Book helped the viewer see race through the lens of one relationship. The ultimate friendship that developed despite the differences of race is a microcosm of what needs to happen.   For depicting the nuances of this relationship, Green Book deserves the accolades it’s received.  This movie does need to be seen.  And better yet take along a person with a different skin color.

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