Three generations of a struggling black family living in a small Chicago apartment in a deal with a sudden financial windfall. Based on Lorraine Hansberry's ground breaking play and starring most of the stage cast, "Raisin in the Sun" is a poignant portrayal of conflicting values and hopes in poor family, both between generations and between genders. Sidney Portier is excellent as Walter, a young father who feels trapped in a servile and dead-end job who sees the insurance payout as an opportunity to go into business, as is Claudia McNeil as his mother, the beneficiary of the settlement who dreams of buying a house for her family. McNeil also brings the perspective of the struggles and sacrifices that brought the family to their modest but dignified lives and who bristles when the younger children complain about their lot. Diana Sands is also very good as daughter Beneatha, a university student for whom the settlement would cover medical school tuition. Beneatha also represents the growing involvement of black youth in racial-politics and interests in their African origins. Ruby Dee rounds out the cast as Walters' pregnant and desperate wife. The story is driven by the conflicting values of the characters with some references to the external issues, such as racism (as personified by a community representative (John Fiedler) who tries to convince the family not to move into his neighbourhood). For a story dealing with such sensitive and politicised issues, the film is refreshingly not heavy-handed, preachy, or self-righteous. I am very much an outsider with respect to the film but found it entertaining, thought-provoking, and very well done.
Review of A Raisin in the Sun
